WEBVTT 00:14.770 --> 00:17.139 Well , good afternoon . I'm , I'm 00:17.139 --> 00:19.028 honored to stand right here today 00:19.028 --> 00:21.028 alongside one of America's finest , 00:21.100 --> 00:23.299 Admiral Brad Cooper , commander of US 00:23.299 --> 00:25.466 Central Command . We just had a chance 00:25.466 --> 00:27.577 to spend a couple of hours together , 00:27.577 --> 00:29.410 better part of two hours , going 00:29.410 --> 00:31.410 through the entirety of this , uh , 00:31.410 --> 00:33.577 this operation , Operation Epic Fury , 00:33.577 --> 00:35.743 and Admiral , I wanna thank you , uh , 00:35.743 --> 00:35.340 for everything you do in your 00:35.340 --> 00:37.173 incredible leadership , for your 00:37.173 --> 00:39.062 dynamic thinking , the way you're 00:39.062 --> 00:41.062 attacking this problem set on every 00:41.062 --> 00:43.229 level . In just days of Operation Epic 00:43.229 --> 00:45.451 Fury , you and your team have delivered 00:45.451 --> 00:47.618 nothing short of devastating , precise 00:47.630 --> 00:50.029 strikes , taking out . The better part 00:50.029 --> 00:51.918 of Iran's navy , making it combat 00:51.918 --> 00:53.862 ineffective , neutralizing missile 00:53.862 --> 00:56.029 sites and launchers , and establishing 00:56.189 --> 00:58.500 total dominance over the skies we fly 00:58.500 --> 01:01.029 over and seas we fly over . Our forces 01:01.029 --> 01:03.540 are executing with unmatched skill , 01:03.950 --> 01:06.410 and the mission is advancing decisively . 01:06.870 --> 01:09.230 This is the kind of no-nonsense results 01:09.230 --> 01:11.209 driven war fighting that America 01:11.709 --> 01:14.430 demands . And you're delivering it in 01:14.430 --> 01:16.669 spades . You are the man for this 01:16.669 --> 01:19.150 moment . Admiral Cooper , on behalf of 01:19.150 --> 01:21.372 the president , the Department of War , 01:21.372 --> 01:23.483 and every American watching , I wanna 01:23.483 --> 01:25.650 thank you for your outstanding job you 01:25.650 --> 01:27.761 and CEO are doing . Keep pressing the 01:27.761 --> 01:30.094 fight . And we are with you all the way . 01:30.339 --> 01:32.561 A few thoughts before I hand it over to 01:32.561 --> 01:35.129 the Admiral for an update . Iran is 01:35.129 --> 01:38.239 hoping . That we cannot sustain this . 01:39.559 --> 01:42.019 Which is a really bad miscalculation 01:42.360 --> 01:45.699 for the IRGC in Iran . You see , 01:46.029 --> 01:48.085 there's no shortage of American will 01:48.085 --> 01:51.830 here . We remember and honor our fallen . 01:52.230 --> 01:54.286 Those 6 that we will soon welcome at 01:54.286 --> 01:56.870 Dover , who gave everything for their 01:56.870 --> 01:58.981 country in this mission , we remember 01:58.981 --> 02:01.010 them . But we remember them by 02:01.010 --> 02:03.569 rededicating ourselves even more 02:03.569 --> 02:06.010 fervently to this mission . Our 02:06.010 --> 02:09.350 commitment to our mission objectives 02:09.610 --> 02:12.770 only increases as our advantages 02:12.770 --> 02:15.779 continue to increase . We've got no 02:15.779 --> 02:17.946 shortage of munitions . Our stockpiles 02:17.946 --> 02:20.250 of defensive and offensive weapons 02:20.259 --> 02:22.820 allow us to sustain this campaign as 02:22.820 --> 02:25.020 long as we need to . Again , our 02:25.020 --> 02:28.320 munition status only increases as our 02:28.320 --> 02:31.500 advantage increases . Our 02:31.500 --> 02:35.059 capabilities We have only just 02:35.240 --> 02:38.339 begun to fight and fight decisively , 02:38.440 --> 02:40.496 having a chance to hear from Admiral 02:40.496 --> 02:42.399 Cooper . If you think you've seen 02:42.399 --> 02:44.889 something , just wait . The amount of 02:44.889 --> 02:46.889 combat power that's still flowing , 02:46.889 --> 02:48.889 that's still coming , that we'll be 02:48.889 --> 02:51.089 able to project over Iran . Is a 02:51.089 --> 02:53.311 multiples of what it currently is right 02:53.311 --> 02:55.367 now when you add up our capabilities 02:55.367 --> 02:57.809 and those of the Israeli Defense Forces . 02:58.639 --> 03:00.917 And we have no shortage of authorities . 03:00.970 --> 03:02.748 The admiral knows we have clear 03:02.748 --> 03:05.130 objectives . With maximum authorities 03:05.130 --> 03:07.460 on the battlefield . The dumb 03:07.460 --> 03:09.516 politically correct wars of the past 03:09.779 --> 03:11.890 were the opposite of what we're doing 03:11.890 --> 03:14.001 here . They had vague objectives with 03:14.001 --> 03:16.419 restrictive minimalist rules of 03:16.419 --> 03:19.899 engagement . No more . Our authorities , 03:20.149 --> 03:22.600 his authorities , Centcom's authorities 03:22.600 --> 03:24.656 through the president and myself are 03:24.656 --> 03:27.000 maxed out . Our capabilities are 03:27.000 --> 03:30.479 overwhelming and gathering still , as 03:30.479 --> 03:32.940 are those of our Israeli partners . Our 03:32.940 --> 03:36.500 munitions are full up . And our will 03:36.500 --> 03:39.940 is ironclad , which means our timeline . 03:40.669 --> 03:44.520 Is ours and ours alone to control . As 03:44.520 --> 03:46.720 long as it takes to ensure the United 03:46.720 --> 03:48.553 States of America achieves these 03:48.553 --> 03:50.776 objectives , and as we flow more forces 03:50.776 --> 03:52.998 and as we flow more capabilities and as 03:52.998 --> 03:55.440 our munitions as we're flying over the 03:55.440 --> 03:57.520 top , have even more devastating 03:57.520 --> 03:59.742 effects , we set the tempo , we set the 03:59.742 --> 04:02.199 timeline led by the commander on the 04:02.199 --> 04:04.679 ground . Our ear is to the ground to 04:04.679 --> 04:06.623 listen to Admiral Cooper , what he 04:06.623 --> 04:08.846 needs and what he needs , he will get . 04:09.270 --> 04:11.710 We are built for this fight . And we 04:11.710 --> 04:14.449 are in it to win it . And we have the 04:14.449 --> 04:16.560 right commander in the lead . So I'll 04:16.560 --> 04:18.782 now hand it over to Admiral Brad Cooper 04:18.782 --> 04:20.893 to give you an update right here from 04:20.893 --> 04:22.893 CENTCO . Admiral , Mr . Secretary , 04:22.893 --> 04:22.540 first , uh , thank you very much and 04:22.540 --> 04:24.373 good afternoon and welcome to US 04:24.373 --> 04:26.096 Central Command headquarters , 04:26.096 --> 04:28.207 America's war fighting headquarters . 04:28.207 --> 04:30.262 Uh , it's great to be here alongside 04:30.262 --> 04:32.484 the Secretary and representing the more 04:32.484 --> 04:34.540 than 50,000 men and women in uniform 04:34.540 --> 04:36.873 currently executing Operation Epic Fury . 04:36.873 --> 04:38.929 Uh , so Mr . Secretary , first thank 04:38.929 --> 04:38.850 you very much for your leadership and 04:38.850 --> 04:40.961 support and the very clear vision and 04:40.961 --> 04:42.906 objectives that you've given us to 04:42.906 --> 04:44.850 allow us to use overwhelming force 04:44.929 --> 04:47.096 against the Iranian terrorist regime . 04:47.096 --> 04:48.985 Uh , and thanks to all of you for 04:48.985 --> 04:51.151 attending today and welcome to Tampa . 04:51.151 --> 04:53.318 We are now , uh , starting our 6th day 04:53.318 --> 04:55.262 of a historic mission to eliminate 04:55.262 --> 04:57.429 Iran's ability to threaten Americans . 04:57.829 --> 05:00.149 We are , if I could channel my inner 05:00.149 --> 05:02.459 Navy officer , we are at full speed 05:02.459 --> 05:04.690 ahead in executing orders given by 05:04.690 --> 05:06.412 leadership in Washington . The 05:06.412 --> 05:08.468 president and Secretary Hicketh have 05:08.468 --> 05:10.023 been crystal clear in their 05:10.023 --> 05:12.023 expectations , and we are at a high 05:12.023 --> 05:14.079 level of execution . As described by 05:14.079 --> 05:16.301 the secretary and and earlier this week 05:16.301 --> 05:18.500 by me , US combat power is building as 05:18.500 --> 05:21.630 Iranian combat power declines . Our air 05:21.630 --> 05:23.519 dominance allows us to hit Iran's 05:23.519 --> 05:25.519 center of gravity with overwhelming 05:25.519 --> 05:27.797 power and reach . A couple of examples . 05:28.369 --> 05:30.829 In just the last 72 hours , America's 05:30.829 --> 05:32.859 bomber force has struck nearly 200 05:32.859 --> 05:35.619 targets deep inside of Iran , including 05:35.619 --> 05:38.220 around Tehran , and in just the last 05:38.220 --> 05:41.019 hour , US B-2 bombers dropped dozens of 05:41.019 --> 05:43.850 2000 pound penetrator bombs targeting 05:43.850 --> 05:45.628 deeply buried ballistic missile 05:45.628 --> 05:47.950 launchers . Notably , we've also struck 05:47.950 --> 05:50.019 Iran's equivalent of Space Command , 05:50.350 --> 05:52.128 which degrades their ability to 05:52.128 --> 05:54.128 threaten Americans . Then if I just 05:54.128 --> 05:56.350 look back over the last 24 hours of the 05:56.350 --> 05:59.010 operation compared to where we were at 05:59.010 --> 06:01.177 start , ballistic missile attacks have 06:01.177 --> 06:04.489 decreased by 90% since day one . Drone 06:04.489 --> 06:07.450 attacks have decreased by 83% since day 06:07.450 --> 06:09.769 one . Having said this , we remained 06:09.880 --> 06:12.380 vigilant . Our strikes against the 06:12.380 --> 06:14.602 Iranian navy have intensified . You may 06:14.602 --> 06:16.602 have heard the president say just a 06:16.602 --> 06:18.950 little while ago that we have sunk or 06:18.950 --> 06:21.061 destroyed 24 ships . That was true at 06:21.061 --> 06:23.394 the moment . We're now up over 30 ships . 06:23.739 --> 06:25.850 And in just the last few hours we hit 06:25.850 --> 06:28.500 an Iranian drone carrier ship roughly 06:28.500 --> 06:30.500 the size of a World War II aircraft 06:30.500 --> 06:32.920 carrier , and as we speak it's on fire . 06:34.140 --> 06:36.549 The president gave us another task to 06:36.549 --> 06:39.989 raise or level Iran's ballistic missile 06:39.989 --> 06:41.878 industrial base so we're not just 06:41.878 --> 06:43.600 hitting what they have , we're 06:43.600 --> 06:45.711 destroying their ability to rebuild . 06:45.711 --> 06:47.711 And so as we transition to the next 06:47.711 --> 06:49.600 phase of this operation , we will 06:49.600 --> 06:51.711 systemically dismantle Iran's missile 06:51.711 --> 06:53.767 production capability for the future 06:53.767 --> 06:55.767 and that's absolutely in progress . 06:55.767 --> 06:57.878 This is going to take some time , but 06:57.878 --> 06:59.878 our forces are well supplied as the 06:59.878 --> 07:02.045 secretary said , and we are absolutely 07:02.045 --> 07:04.211 ready to prosecute this missile , this 07:04.211 --> 07:06.433 mission decisively . Our combined joint 07:06.433 --> 07:08.378 forces have relentlessly destroyed 07:08.378 --> 07:08.269 Iran's air defenses over the past few 07:08.269 --> 07:10.325 days , and they've continued hunting 07:10.325 --> 07:12.390 for more systems to kill . Our air 07:12.390 --> 07:14.612 defenders are operating at the very top 07:14.612 --> 07:16.834 of their game . I couldn't be prouder , 07:16.834 --> 07:19.001 shoulder to shoulder with our partners 07:19.001 --> 07:18.980 in the region , in many cases , 07:19.230 --> 07:21.119 providing the most integrated air 07:21.119 --> 07:23.397 defense network in Middle East history . 07:24.130 --> 07:26.920 We are fighting to win through combined 07:26.920 --> 07:29.031 US and Israeli combat power . We will 07:29.031 --> 07:31.142 continue decimating Iran's ability to 07:31.142 --> 07:33.364 project power outside its borders . And 07:33.364 --> 07:36.130 if I can just uh conclude by saying a 07:36.130 --> 07:38.074 strong salute to the brave men and 07:38.074 --> 07:40.297 women who are out on the pointy edge of 07:40.297 --> 07:42.463 this , really doing exceptional work . 07:42.463 --> 07:44.686 I just couldn't be prouder , and I know 07:44.686 --> 07:44.250 the American people share in that same 07:44.250 --> 07:46.083 pride . So thank you very much . 07:46.083 --> 07:48.306 Absolutely . And with that , we'll take 07:48.306 --> 07:50.417 a few questions , yeah , right here . 07:51.380 --> 07:53.102 Admiral , I wanted to ask Mr . 07:53.102 --> 07:55.179 Secretary , the Ukrainian president 07:55.179 --> 07:57.489 said today that The US has asked 07:59.369 --> 08:02.730 deal with Can you guys talk about what 08:02.730 --> 08:04.897 you asked for and has , has there been 08:04.897 --> 08:07.260 any surprise , any surprises from Iran ? 08:08.130 --> 08:11.929 Go ahead . We're we're very 08:11.929 --> 08:13.985 familiar with Iranians' capabilities 08:13.985 --> 08:16.096 and as you might imagine , we planned 08:16.096 --> 08:18.151 for it right from the outset , and I 08:18.151 --> 08:20.151 feel good about what the plan was . 08:20.151 --> 08:23.769 Like any good organization , we adjust 08:23.769 --> 08:25.825 as necessary to meet the environment 08:25.825 --> 08:27.658 and we've made those appropriate 08:27.658 --> 08:29.047 adjustments right here . 08:31.920 --> 08:33.929 One was an American pilot shot down 08:33.929 --> 08:37.280 today . And 2 , Reports that there's 08:37.280 --> 08:39.760 enriched uranium stored in Isfahan . 08:40.590 --> 08:42.646 I've also heard reports that there's 08:42.646 --> 08:44.868 not a lot of bombing there . Is that on 08:44.868 --> 08:46.646 purpose ? Do we believe there's 08:46.646 --> 08:48.812 enriched uranium there ? Would we ever 08:48.812 --> 08:51.146 send special forces to secure ? As , uh , 08:51.146 --> 08:53.312 Centcom pointed out that those reports 08:53.312 --> 08:55.479 of an F-15 being shot down are false . 08:55.479 --> 08:57.770 Um , as you can imagine , Iran is doing 08:57.770 --> 08:59.881 everything it can to peddle in lies , 08:59.881 --> 09:01.770 uh , deception , and inflation of 09:01.770 --> 09:03.492 numbers in reality , mostly to 09:03.492 --> 09:05.437 propagandize to their own people , 09:05.437 --> 09:07.603 right ? They don't , they've , they've 09:07.603 --> 09:09.714 shut down the internet . Uh , they're 09:09.714 --> 09:11.659 hoping they can convince their own 09:11.659 --> 09:11.549 population that they're having success . 09:11.919 --> 09:13.919 Uh , one thing one of their leaders 09:13.919 --> 09:16.197 said recently is that , you know , 500 . 09:16.197 --> 09:18.530 Americans have been killed , they claim , 09:18.530 --> 09:20.863 these are lies . The lies will continue . 09:20.863 --> 09:23.141 CEO will continue to debunk those lies , 09:23.141 --> 09:24.975 so . And as often is the case in 09:24.975 --> 09:26.919 conflict , first reports are often 09:26.919 --> 09:28.697 wrong as it pertains to nuclear 09:28.697 --> 09:30.863 material and things like that . One of 09:30.863 --> 09:33.086 the objectives the president has always 09:33.086 --> 09:32.619 said is that Iran will not have a 09:32.619 --> 09:34.730 nuclear bomb , nuclear capabilities , 09:34.730 --> 09:36.730 but we would never disclose what we 09:36.730 --> 09:38.897 will or will not do inside operational 09:38.897 --> 09:41.175 plans . So Admiral Cooper's got a plan . 09:41.175 --> 09:43.175 We're working that plan and targets 09:43.175 --> 09:45.341 will be struck or not struck according 09:45.341 --> 09:47.341 to what we want to achieve . Yeah , 09:47.341 --> 09:49.286 right there , Secretary Hexa , the 09:49.286 --> 09:51.230 president said earlier today in an 09:51.230 --> 09:53.397 interview that he would like to have a 09:53.397 --> 09:55.563 say in who's the next leader of Iran . 09:55.563 --> 09:57.675 Is this an expansion of your military 09:57.675 --> 09:59.786 objective ? Do you view it that way ? 09:59.786 --> 10:01.841 And additionally , you spoke earlier 10:01.841 --> 10:03.952 today about how previous leaders have 10:04.229 --> 10:06.396 drawn resources from our hemisphere to 10:06.396 --> 10:08.830 the Middle East . How do you avoid that ? 10:10.010 --> 10:11.954 Well , there's no expansion . Uh , 10:11.954 --> 10:14.010 ultimately , I think the president's 10:14.010 --> 10:16.232 having a heck of a say in who runs Iran 10:16.232 --> 10:18.343 given the ongoing operation we have . 10:18.343 --> 10:20.066 So there's no expansion in our 10:20.066 --> 10:19.489 objectives . We know exactly what we're 10:19.489 --> 10:21.656 trying to achieve . I think today is a 10:21.656 --> 10:23.378 great example of what this War 10:23.378 --> 10:25.545 Department is capable of doing . I was 10:25.545 --> 10:27.656 just in another part of Florida today 10:27.656 --> 10:29.711 where we announced , uh , you know , 10:29.711 --> 10:31.545 America's counter counter cartel 10:31.545 --> 10:33.378 conference . 18 countries coming 10:33.378 --> 10:35.489 together from Central , South America 10:35.489 --> 10:37.545 and the Caribbean coming together to 10:37.545 --> 10:39.711 fight cartels . That is something that 10:39.711 --> 10:41.656 is ongoing . We're focused there . 10:41.656 --> 10:41.244 We're focused in the Indo-Pacific . We 10:41.244 --> 10:44.554 can mass combat power in CEO . UCO is 10:44.554 --> 10:47.044 able to support that as well . So we 10:47.044 --> 10:48.822 know we're laser focused on our 10:48.822 --> 10:50.711 hemisphere and our homeland , and 10:50.711 --> 10:50.594 that's why we locked down the border . 10:50.724 --> 10:52.891 That's why we're working with partners 10:52.891 --> 10:55.002 to take on cartels . That's why we're 10:55.002 --> 10:54.744 sinking drug boats . That's why we're 10:54.924 --> 10:56.646 on the offense there . But the 10:56.646 --> 10:58.480 beautiful things about combatant 10:58.480 --> 11:01.125 commands is that , you know , Brad 11:01.125 --> 11:03.294 Cooper's laser focused on Central 11:03.294 --> 11:05.419 Command . Just like Frank Donovan is 11:05.419 --> 11:07.697 laser focused on , on Southern Command , 11:08.159 --> 11:10.159 uh , we can do both . That's what a 11:10.159 --> 11:12.381 global power can do . Ultimately this , 11:12.381 --> 11:14.437 this issue of Iran's nuclear pursuit 11:14.437 --> 11:16.215 and their unwillingness through 11:16.215 --> 11:18.326 negotiations to stop it was something 11:18.326 --> 11:20.437 President Trump . has said for a long 11:20.437 --> 11:22.548 time needs to be dealt with and after 11:22.548 --> 11:24.659 47 years he's doing something that no 11:24.659 --> 11:26.770 other president was willing to do and 11:26.770 --> 11:28.992 we're doing it overwhelmingly and we're 11:28.992 --> 11:31.215 doing it decisively while also in other 11:31.215 --> 11:33.326 parts of the globe having the desired 11:33.326 --> 11:35.437 effect . I mean take for example what 11:35.437 --> 11:37.548 what we displayed yesterday , the the 11:37.548 --> 11:40.549 Iranian ship in the Indian Ocean sunk 11:40.549 --> 11:42.771 by Indoecom , another combatant command 11:43.109 --> 11:45.109 who coordinated with us in order to 11:45.109 --> 11:47.220 make that happen . So America's reach 11:47.220 --> 11:49.498 is global . Uh , our focus here though , 11:49.498 --> 11:51.498 those missions , these missions are 11:51.498 --> 11:53.498 narrow , they're scoped , and , and 11:53.498 --> 11:55.553 Admiral Cooper is well on his way to 11:55.553 --> 11:57.887 ensuring that we reach those objectives , 11:57.887 --> 11:56.799 right here , yes sir . 12:01.890 --> 12:05.090 Um , do , the trains are talking about 12:05.090 --> 12:08.989 providing , um , Low cost interceptors , 12:09.000 --> 12:10.778 given your experience , is that 12:10.778 --> 12:12.944 something that the Pentagon is looking 12:12.944 --> 12:14.944 for Robert Cooper , can you walk us 12:14.944 --> 12:17.056 through a little bit about the , uh , 12:17.056 --> 12:19.056 how effective the Lucas drones have 12:19.056 --> 12:21.389 been , what kind of targets they've hit , 12:21.389 --> 12:23.611 and how much that's helped , given that 12:23.611 --> 12:25.611 they're low cost alternative to the 12:25.611 --> 12:28.539 more expensive . Go ahead . Sure , uh , 12:28.630 --> 12:30.408 I'm , I'm not familiar with the 12:30.408 --> 12:32.574 particular offer , uh , but the , uh , 12:32.574 --> 12:34.630 interceptors in general , uh , we've 12:34.630 --> 12:36.797 had a number of new capabilities being 12:36.797 --> 12:38.852 fielded . Obviously I'm not going to 12:38.852 --> 12:40.741 talk about it from an operational 12:40.741 --> 12:40.739 perspective of what those are , uh , 12:40.789 --> 12:43.011 but I think you have seen over a period 12:43.011 --> 12:45.011 of time us kind of get on the other 12:45.011 --> 12:47.067 side of this cost curve on drones in 12:47.067 --> 12:49.233 general . If I just walk back a couple 12:49.233 --> 12:51.345 of years , you remember what you used 12:51.345 --> 12:53.400 to always hear we're shooting down a 12:53.400 --> 12:55.733 $50,000 drone with a $2 million missile . 12:55.733 --> 12:57.956 These days we're spending a lot of time 12:57.956 --> 12:59.900 shooting down $100,000 drones with 12:59.900 --> 13:02.039 $10,000 weapons from ours . So that's 13:02.039 --> 13:04.369 one aspect of it . Lucas indispensable , 13:05.150 --> 13:07.317 as many of you know , and if you don't 13:07.317 --> 13:09.261 know , this is an original Iranian 13:09.261 --> 13:11.428 drone design . We captured it , pulled 13:11.428 --> 13:13.706 the guts out , sent it back to America , 13:13.706 --> 13:15.594 put a little Made America on it , 13:15.594 --> 13:15.590 brought it back here , and we're 13:15.590 --> 13:19.140 shooting at the Iranians . Good targets . 13:20.729 --> 13:23.010 Good targets . Absolutely , uh , right 13:23.010 --> 13:25.299 there . Yes , ma'am . Secretary , um , 13:25.450 --> 13:28.080 President Trump in his first speech 13:28.080 --> 13:30.820 after the , the launch of the Operation 13:30.820 --> 13:33.539 Eic theory , um , he addressed Iranian . 13:34.210 --> 13:36.377 And he said that there's going to be a 13:36.377 --> 13:38.599 time for you to come out , but it's not 13:38.599 --> 13:40.650 now . Stay home , it's not safe . I 13:40.650 --> 13:42.890 want to know if there is a timeline for 13:42.890 --> 13:44.723 that , that you're going to urge 13:44.723 --> 13:46.834 Iranian people to come out , how that 13:46.834 --> 13:49.010 is going to play out and how are you 13:49.010 --> 13:52.659 gonna . um , the protesters , you know 13:52.659 --> 13:55.099 that they're gonna be shot probably as 13:55.099 --> 13:57.299 we witnessed in January . That's what 13:57.299 --> 13:59.580 happened . How are you gonna protect 13:59.580 --> 14:01.580 and support the protesters ? And 14:01.580 --> 14:03.802 Admiral , I have one question for you . 14:03.802 --> 14:07.690 Um , how are you gonna , um , Minimize 14:07.690 --> 14:11.030 the civilian harms . We have a lot of 14:11.030 --> 14:14.440 evidence that the Basiege units , IRGC 14:14.440 --> 14:17.030 commanders , they are now gathering in 14:17.030 --> 14:19.869 schools , in hospitals , in purely 14:19.869 --> 14:22.030 residential areas because their 14:22.030 --> 14:24.141 headquarters are bombarded . They are 14:24.141 --> 14:26.141 ruined , of course . So how are you 14:26.141 --> 14:29.590 going to protect the civilians while 14:29.590 --> 14:32.119 you're attacking the IRGC people Park ? 14:33.140 --> 14:35.084 I would just say on the protests , 14:35.084 --> 14:37.307 obviously a lot of Iranian people , the 14:37.307 --> 14:39.473 Iranian people showed a lot of courage 14:39.473 --> 14:41.418 in those protests , and we saw the 14:41.418 --> 14:43.640 Iranian regime was revealed for what it 14:43.640 --> 14:45.696 is in the way they reacted to that . 14:45.696 --> 14:47.918 The world saw that . No one's done more 14:47.918 --> 14:49.862 than President Trump to reopen the 14:49.862 --> 14:49.830 opportunity for those who want a free 14:49.830 --> 14:53.039 Iran to do so . Ultimately it's common 14:53.039 --> 14:55.359 sense , as he said up front , don't go 14:55.359 --> 14:57.469 out and protest while bombs are 14:57.469 --> 15:00.039 dropping inside Tehran and elsewhere . 15:00.359 --> 15:02.359 So there , there will come a moment 15:02.359 --> 15:04.479 where he determines or they determine 15:04.640 --> 15:06.473 that it's the time to seize that 15:06.473 --> 15:08.696 advantage . But there's a lot of things 15:08.696 --> 15:10.918 we're doing and the Israeli military is 15:10.918 --> 15:13.029 doing targeting those individuals who 15:13.029 --> 15:15.140 are targeting those who protest . The 15:15.140 --> 15:17.196 more you do that and you erode their 15:17.196 --> 15:19.418 will and you erode their capabilities , 15:19.418 --> 15:19.159 the more you create an opportunity for 15:19.159 --> 15:21.326 people to boldly stand up . Yeah , I , 15:21.326 --> 15:23.492 I would just reinforce the point we're 15:23.492 --> 15:25.659 targeting the people . We're targeting 15:25.659 --> 15:27.881 the headquarters and the people who are 15:27.881 --> 15:27.130 targeting the protesters , you know , 15:27.239 --> 15:29.183 first and foremost . I'd also just 15:29.183 --> 15:31.406 double down on the president's comments 15:31.406 --> 15:33.628 that he previously made to the , to the 15:33.628 --> 15:35.572 people . Stay in your homes , keep 15:35.572 --> 15:37.628 things calm , you know , stay , stay 15:37.628 --> 15:39.683 out of the way . There's , there's a 15:39.683 --> 15:41.795 lot of US and Israeli capacity coming 15:41.795 --> 15:44.017 over . We're hitting a lot of targets . 15:44.017 --> 15:46.239 The best thing for them to do for right 15:46.239 --> 15:48.350 now is just to lay low . Right here . 15:48.350 --> 15:50.461 Thank you , Mr . Secretary . Um , one 15:50.461 --> 15:52.461 common outcome of American military 15:52.461 --> 15:54.572 action in the past has been taking in 15:54.572 --> 15:57.210 thousands of refugees into the American 15:57.210 --> 15:59.432 homeland , and I'm wondering if there's 15:59.432 --> 16:01.432 any safeguards put in place to make 16:01.432 --> 16:03.488 sure that the American people aren't 16:03.488 --> 16:05.849 having to have another wave of refugees 16:05.849 --> 16:07.960 from the Middle East or anywhere else 16:08.330 --> 16:10.919 come and stay here . I think it's safe 16:10.919 --> 16:13.400 to say there's no plan for a wave of uh 16:13.400 --> 16:15.344 new Middle Eastern refugees to the 16:15.344 --> 16:17.456 United States of America . I think as 16:17.456 --> 16:17.440 the president has pointed out for a 16:17.440 --> 16:19.162 long time , there are a lot of 16:19.162 --> 16:21.440 countries in this , in the region , uh , 16:21.440 --> 16:23.718 who would be capable of , of providing , 16:23.718 --> 16:25.884 uh , that kind of support if need be , 16:25.884 --> 16:28.107 uh , but that's certainly not something 16:28.107 --> 16:30.329 we're planning on . Yeah , back there , 16:30.329 --> 16:32.107 yep , yes sir , uh , Michael in 16:32.107 --> 16:34.273 Washington Times , I wanted to ask , I 16:34.273 --> 16:36.551 know you know Semper Gumby is always a , 16:36.551 --> 16:38.496 a truism in the military . Did the 16:38.496 --> 16:40.729 British decision to refuse David Garcia 16:41.000 --> 16:43.349 have any impact on the mission itself ? 16:43.479 --> 16:45.535 Did you have to adjust , or were you 16:45.535 --> 16:47.868 able to just completely , uh , you know , 16:47.868 --> 16:49.979 go with the mission without , without 16:49.979 --> 16:51.923 worrying ? Well , as the president 16:51.923 --> 16:54.090 stated , it was unfortunate that our , 16:54.090 --> 16:56.312 uh , that the Brits didn't from day one 16:56.312 --> 16:58.590 say , hey , go ahead . And have access , 16:58.590 --> 17:01.000 but we got there . We got there and 17:01.000 --> 17:03.111 that's now part of the way that we're 17:03.111 --> 17:05.222 operationalizing bomber runs and it's 17:05.222 --> 17:07.444 part of when we say more to come , it's 17:07.444 --> 17:09.389 more fighter squadrons , it's more 17:09.389 --> 17:11.333 capabilities , it's more defensive 17:11.333 --> 17:13.333 capabilities , and it's more bomber 17:13.333 --> 17:15.500 pulses more frequently . The amount of 17:15.500 --> 17:17.800 firepower over Iran and over Tehran is 17:17.800 --> 17:20.239 about to surge dramatically , and part 17:20.239 --> 17:22.406 of it is that we're going to have even 17:22.406 --> 17:24.683 more basing , and it's not just the UK . 17:24.683 --> 17:26.795 We've had other friends step up , and 17:26.795 --> 17:28.961 we're grateful for that . Maybe , uh , 17:28.961 --> 17:31.183 maybe one more right here . Yeah , um , 17:31.183 --> 17:33.072 the Azeri president earlier today 17:33.072 --> 17:35.128 basically authorized his minister of 17:35.128 --> 17:37.239 defense to begin preparing troops for 17:37.239 --> 17:36.969 some type of retaliatory action after 17:36.969 --> 17:38.802 the airport strike , uh , as the 17:38.802 --> 17:40.858 Department of War and CEO working on 17:40.858 --> 17:42.913 deconflicting with the Azari if they 17:42.913 --> 17:45.136 were to move in or attempt something in 17:45.136 --> 17:47.247 retaliation . Um , I'm sure there are 17:47.247 --> 17:49.413 plans , and I'll let the admiral speak 17:49.413 --> 17:51.525 to that , but I , I , that does allow 17:51.525 --> 17:53.691 me to kind of address this idea that , 17:53.691 --> 17:55.858 the , the , the war might be expanding 17:55.858 --> 17:57.969 or there , or there's chaos and , and 17:57.969 --> 17:57.829 nothing could be further from the truth . 17:57.930 --> 18:00.010 If anything , what Iran is doing by 18:00.010 --> 18:02.290 targeting allied countries that would 18:02.290 --> 18:04.346 otherwise want to stay out of this , 18:04.346 --> 18:06.457 they've actually pulled them into the 18:06.457 --> 18:08.770 American orbit . So now you've got UAE 18:08.890 --> 18:11.050 and Qatar and Bahrain and Saudi and 18:11.050 --> 18:13.217 Kuwait and others saying , hey , we're 18:13.217 --> 18:15.272 with you . Here's , we'll shoot with 18:15.272 --> 18:17.494 you , we'll fly with you , we'll defend 18:17.494 --> 18:19.550 with you . Uh , we'll allow you more 18:19.550 --> 18:21.772 basing and uh and other opportunities , 18:21.772 --> 18:23.828 a lot of which , you know , we can't 18:23.828 --> 18:23.219 talk about and won't talk about , but 18:23.319 --> 18:25.719 it's actually firming up the unity of 18:25.719 --> 18:27.552 the resistance in order to focus 18:27.552 --> 18:29.775 exactly where we need to . So this idea 18:29.775 --> 18:31.775 that it's expanding or going , no , 18:31.775 --> 18:33.441 it's actually . It's actually 18:33.441 --> 18:35.663 simplifying in a number of ways exactly 18:35.663 --> 18:37.775 what we need to achieve and how we'll 18:37.775 --> 18:39.830 achieve it . I don't know if you . I 18:39.830 --> 18:41.830 won't get out of ahead of policy in 18:41.830 --> 18:41.790 terms of what we might do . What I will 18:41.790 --> 18:43.679 point out is this is now the 12th 18:43.679 --> 18:46.219 country that Iran has attacked , 12 18:46.219 --> 18:48.330 countries , and it goes right back to 18:48.330 --> 18:50.441 the secretary's point . Uh , those 12 18:50.441 --> 18:52.441 countries , uh , are , are none too 18:52.441 --> 18:54.552 happy , and , uh , I , I look forward 18:54.552 --> 18:56.608 to working with all the partners who 18:56.608 --> 18:58.775 are willing to join us in this . And I 18:58.775 --> 19:00.775 would just close by saying , sure . 19:01.160 --> 19:03.271 What is your message to Americans who 19:03.271 --> 19:05.949 are concerned about security here at 19:05.949 --> 19:08.171 home with the changeup that we're going 19:08.171 --> 19:10.338 to see at the Department of Homeland ? 19:10.338 --> 19:10.189 Well , I think , I think , uh , 19:11.209 --> 19:13.209 Christine did an excellent job over 19:13.209 --> 19:15.320 there securing our border and keeping 19:15.320 --> 19:17.265 us focused on , on threats and the 19:17.265 --> 19:19.376 President making a change . We also . 19:19.376 --> 19:18.734 Serve with the pleasure of the 19:18.734 --> 19:20.901 president . I'm sure Mark Wayne Mullen 19:20.901 --> 19:23.012 will do a fantastic job . He's been a 19:23.012 --> 19:25.178 friend of mine for a long time , but , 19:25.178 --> 19:27.290 uh , Christie did a great job setting 19:27.290 --> 19:29.512 us up for success . So I don't have any 19:29.512 --> 19:29.405 concerns about whether or not the 19:29.405 --> 19:31.572 homeland will be covered down on . And 19:31.572 --> 19:33.627 I'll just end by saying I wish every 19:33.627 --> 19:35.849 American could get a chance to see what 19:35.849 --> 19:38.016 we see . I had a chance to go into the 19:38.016 --> 19:39.849 control room , into the tactical 19:39.849 --> 19:42.016 operations center , go see these young 19:42.016 --> 19:41.599 men and women that are doing this , the 19:41.599 --> 19:43.760 dedication that they show at every 19:43.760 --> 19:45.871 level , the way they've refined their 19:45.871 --> 19:48.180 craft . I'm talking to a young colonel 19:48.400 --> 19:51.239 who's iterating on how we target and 19:51.239 --> 19:53.420 how we , how we find and fix different 19:53.420 --> 19:55.642 aspects of what the Iranians are trying 19:55.642 --> 19:57.698 to do . If they They don't know what 19:57.698 --> 20:00.079 they're up against . And uh if , if 20:00.079 --> 20:02.246 they think they've got it solved for , 20:02.246 --> 20:04.468 they're wrong . Uh , and ultimately the 20:04.468 --> 20:06.412 combination of our ingenuity , the 20:06.412 --> 20:08.301 skill , the professionalism , the 20:08.301 --> 20:10.468 discipline , and then the sheer weight 20:10.468 --> 20:12.746 of the capabilities of the US military , 20:12.746 --> 20:14.857 uh , what you're gonna see , uh , may 20:14.857 --> 20:17.135 look routine . It may start to be like , 20:17.135 --> 20:18.968 oh , another boat , oh , another 20:18.968 --> 20:21.246 launcher , oh , another drone facility . 20:21.246 --> 20:23.520 What it takes to do this . Uh , with 20:23.520 --> 20:25.853 the precision that we do is world class . 20:25.853 --> 20:27.687 No one else can do it , and it's 20:27.687 --> 20:29.798 world-class Americans , uh , like the 20:29.798 --> 20:31.853 ones I saw here , like the ones that 20:31.853 --> 20:34.020 are coming home that we're gonna greet 20:34.020 --> 20:35.964 home , that are the engine of what 20:35.964 --> 20:38.187 makes our country great . And so I'm so 20:38.187 --> 20:40.298 grateful for folks like those here at 20:40.298 --> 20:42.520 CETCOM at Central Command who are under 20:42.520 --> 20:42.150 your command . Thank you for your 20:42.150 --> 20:44.261 decisive leadership , and all I , all 20:44.261 --> 20:46.483 I'll say to you is what I say to them . 20:46.483 --> 20:48.706 Keep going because , uh , the president 20:48.706 --> 20:48.439 and myself , we have your back . Thank 20:48.439 --> 20:50.606 you , Admiral . Appreciate it . Thanks 20:50.606 --> 20:52.099 very much . Thank you all . operation .