Trump says US strikes on Iran are about to kick into even higher gear: ‘The big one is coming’

President Trump said Monday that the United States is prepared to intensify its military campaign against Iran, warning that larger strikes could be coming soon.

“The big one is coming,” President Trump said, adding that the current phase of operations is only the beginning of a broader effort.

In an interview, the president said he would not rule out deploying American ground troops to Iran if the situation required it, though he believes such a step will likely not be necessary.

President Trump said the United States will continue military operations until Iran’s military capabilities are significantly weakened. Earlier estimates suggested the campaign could last roughly four weeks.

So far, six U.S. service members have been killed during the conflict. All of the casualties resulted from Iranian strikes on Kuwait. The United States has also lost three advanced F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, valued at about $31 million each, after they were mistakenly shot down by Kuwait’s air defense systems.

Iran has responded to the U.S. offensive by launching drones and ballistic missiles at multiple countries across the region, including U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf, Iraq, Israel, and Cyprus.

The U.S. military campaign, known as Operation Epic Fury, began more than 48 hours earlier with a strike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several senior officials. Despite the initial wave of attacks, President Trump said the operation is far from over.

“We’re knocking the crap out of them,” President Trump said in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper. “I think it’s going very well. It’s very powerful.”

He added that even stronger strikes could occur in the near future.

“We haven’t even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasn’t even happened yet,” he said.

Over the weekend, the United States and Israel carried out coordinated strikes across Iran, a country of roughly 90 million people.

According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), more than 1,250 targets have been hit so far, including the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, ballistic missile sites, naval vessels, and command centers.

CENTCOM also said the attacks eliminated Iran’s naval presence in the Gulf of Oman, reducing its fleet there from 11 vessels to none.

President Trump authorized the strikes while traveling to a campaign rally in Texas. At the event, he addressed supporters and continued his public appearances while the operation unfolded.

The president said the campaign will continue until several key objectives are achieved. He also urged Iranian civilians to remain indoors during the fighting.

“Right now we want everyone staying inside. It’s not safe out there,” he said.

President Trump outlined four primary goals for the operation:

Destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities
Eliminate Iran’s naval capacity in the region
Prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon
Stop the Iranian government from supporting armed groups outside its borders

Smoke rising from an explosion in Tehran, Iran. — Smoke rises after targeted attacks in Tehran on Sunday. Anadolu via Getty Images

Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the president’s message, warning that the next phase of the campaign could be even more severe.

“The next phase will be even more punishing on Iran than it is right now,” Rubio told reporters on Capitol Hill. “We will continue this as long as it takes to achieve those objectives.”

Rubio declined to provide a specific timeline but said the operation would continue until U.S. goals are met.

President Trump has estimated the campaign could last four to five weeks, though he acknowledged it may take longer after Iran warned it was prepared for a prolonged conflict.

Naval vessels participating in a joint military drill. — Operation Epic Fury saw the US and Israel conduct joint strikes across Iran over the weekend. Iranian Army Office/AFP via Getty Images

In addition to air and missile strikes, the president said the possibility of sending U.S. troops to Iran remains open depending on how the situation develops.

“I don’t rule out boots on the ground like some presidents do,” President Trump said. “I say we probably won’t need them, but if they were necessary, we would consider it.”

President Trump also commented on the strike that killed Khamenei, claiming Iran had previously been involved in alleged plots to assassinate him.

“I got him before he got me,” President Trump said in an interview with ABC News.

Iran responded to the attacks with a series of strikes across the region. According to CENTCOM, at least four U.S. service members were killed when an operations base in Kuwait was hit by Iranian missiles, and several others were seriously injured.

A U.S. B-1 bomber aircraft stands on an airfield at night, illuminated by two bright lights. — A US B-1 bomber used in Operation Epic Fury against Iran. X / @CENTCOM

The remains of two additional soldiers were later recovered following another strike at a military facility in the Middle East. The identities of those killed are being withheld until their families are notified.

President Trump said Iran’s broad retaliation against U.S. allies was one of the biggest surprises of the conflict so far, but he said it has strengthened his determination to continue the operation.

When asked about the possibility of Iran retaliating through terrorism, the president said the United States would respond forcefully.

“We’ll take it out,” President Trump said. “Whatever it is, we’ll take it out.”

original source