The commander of a unit that attempted to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump was killed, making President Trump the "ultimate winner," Secretary of War Pete Hegses announced on the 4th (local time).

Speaking at a Pentagon press conference alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Cain, Secretary Hegses stated that an Iranian operative was "tracked down and killed" during the initial phase of "Operation Epic Fury."

The joint operation, designed to dismantle Iranian missile, drone, naval, and nuclear threat infrastructure for the U.S. and Israel, succeeded in eliminating the notorious unit commander.

While Hegses mentioned that the individual involved in the assassination plot was not the primary target of the operation, he confirmed that the strike occurred "after U.S. forces had an opportunity to target those who ultimately intended to attack Americans."

"Iran tried to assassinate President Trump, but ultimately President Trump won," Hegses said.

Iranian state television had previously broadcast images related to the 2024 shooting incident at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, accompanied by a threatening warning: "This time, the bullet will not miss."

The Department of War briefing explained that Iran's ability to project military power had been significantly degraded over the first four days.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Cain reported that Iran's tactical ballistic missile launches decreased by 86% compared to the first day of combat, with an additional 23% reduction in the last 24 hours, and one-way attack drone launches also decreased by 73% from the initial phase.

Cain also stated that U.S. forces had struck over 2,000 targets so far, and that the number of U.S. and Iranian tactical ballistic missile launches had decreased by 86% compared to the first day of combat, with an additional 23% reduction in the last 24 hours, and one-way attack drone launches also decreased by 73% from the initial phase.

Hegses proudly stated that the United States and Israel would gain control of Iranian airspace "in less than a week," explaining that this pace would continue to put pressure on Iran's launchers, production facilities, and leadership strongholds.

The Department of War also highlighted naval achievements in securing strategic sea lanes. General Cain announced that U.S. forces had sunk over 20 Iranian naval vessels, effectively neutralizing Iran's primary naval capabilities in the operational area.

He cited an incident where a U.S. Navy fast attack submarine sank an Iranian warship with a Mark 48 torpedo, an event that officials described as the first time an enemy combat vessel had been sunk by a torpedo since World War II.

CENTCOM launched "Operation Epic Fury" on February 28, with initial strike targets including Iran's security apparatus such as missile and drone launchers, air defense systems, and command and control facilities, it stated.

Hegses and Cain emphasized that the objectives of the operation were not regime change or nation-building, but to prevent Iran from threatening the United States and its allies, to block its path to developing nuclear weapons, and to maintain a robust U.S. defense stockpile and multi-layered regional air and missile defense systems.

U.S. NNP=Reporter Sung Ku Hong / Special contribution NNP info@newsandpost.com