Pentagon chief refuses to rule out 'boots on ground' in IranUS Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon on March 2, 2026. When asked if the United States already had boots on the ground, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth told a news conference: "No, but we're not going to go into the exercise of what we will or will not do." As for how long the war will last, Hegseth said: "Four weeks, two weeks, six weeks, it could move up. General Dan Caine, the top US military officer, spoke alongside Hegseth, saying that air superiority had been achieved over Iran. This air superiority will not only enhance the protection of our forces, but also allow them to continue the work over Iran," Caine said.

Source: Bangkok Post March 02, 2026 15:41 UTC