"No Backing Down and Good Luck".. Behind the Scenes of Trump's Final Decision to Strike Iran

SadaNews - General Dan Keen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, revealed on Monday details of President Donald Trump's orders to commence "Operation Epic Fury" against Iran in coordination with Israel.

Keen explained during a joint press conference with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth: "Trump gave the green light for the mission against Iran at 3:38 PM on Friday."

Keen stated: "The president issued the order, and I quote verbatim: The Epic Fury operation is approved. No backing down. Good luck, end of quote."

He added, "This was a daytime strike, based on a triggering event, carried out by Israeli forces with support from U.S. intelligence," while The Wall Street Journal indicated that the significant event was a gathering of the Iranian leader and other officials at a complex in the capital Tehran.

General Keen mentioned that the U.S. launched Tomahawk missiles from the sea, likely from destroyers and submarines equipped with guided missiles, in addition to launching precision munitions from the ground.

He noted: "The operation was a massive and comprehensive attack on all domains of warfare, targeting more than a thousand sites within the first 24 hours."

In the initial phase of the operation, Central Command focused on targeting the infrastructure of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, naval forces, ballistic missile sites, and the intelligence infrastructure designed to "confuse and disrupt" the Iranians.

The United States also coordinated air and cyber operations to disrupt communication networks and sensor devices, effectively blinding the enemy, according to Keen.

He continued: "More than 100 aircraft were launched in a single wave in a crushing attack on Iran... We intercepted hundreds of missiles fired towards our forces and allies."

Keen added that the damage assessment from the battles will take time, as the Epic Fury operation was not "one operation."

For his part, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated on Monday that military operations against Iran would not lead to a "never-ending war," and that the goal is to destroy Tehran's missiles, navy, and other security infrastructure.

Hegseth added in a press conference at the ministry: "We are striking them precisely and powerfully with no relent," emphasizing that "the war with Iran is not aimed at establishing democracy."

He continued: "Our strikes in Iran focus on destroying Iran's capabilities... and we are the ones who set the terms of this war."

Hegseth further stated: "We did not start the war with Iran and tried to reach a deal but Tehran was trying to buy time."

He stressed that "Iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon," adding: "Iran has built nothing but nuclear facilities."