Hegseth Pentagon briefing: Iran's 11 submarines all destroyed, ports crippled — 'today will be largest strike package yet'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a Pentagon news conference on Thursday March 19 alongside Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Key statements: IRAN NAVAL ASSESSMENT: Hegseth declared that Iran had 11 submarines before the war and that they are 'now all gone.' He said Iran's military ports 'are crippled.' This represents the most explicit US claim yet about the destruction of Iran's submarine fleet. STRIKE ESCALATION: 'Today will be the largest strike package yet,' Hegseth said — though the NYT noted he made the identical claim at his previous briefing almost a week ago, 'underscoring the weakened Iranian regime's resilience.' ATTRITION METRICS: Iranian missile strikes down 90% and drone attacks down 95% since the war began, per Hegseth. However these figures have not changed in more than a week. FAMILIES AT DOVER: Hegseth said families of American troops killed in the Iran War told him at Dover AFB on Wednesday to 'finish this' and 'honor their sacrifice. Do not waver. Do not stop until the job is done.' RHETORIC: 'We're winning decisively and on our terms.' Hegseth again attacked journalists he deemed insufficiently patriotic and made a religious appeal asking Americans to pray 'on bended knee' and 'in the name of Jesus Christ.'