Hegseth to address leaked Iran damage assessment
Share and Follow


Not sure how to find on your TV? Find your channel here.  Get 24/7 fact-based unbiased news coverage with the app.

() The Trump administration has gone on the offensive over a “leaked” intelligence report contradicting the White House’s claims about damage caused by U.S. strikes in Iran.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will hold a news briefing at 8 a.m. EDT, in which Hegseth will discuss the report and “fight for the dignity of our great American pilots,” according to President Donald Trump.

While Trump has claimed “Operation Midnight Hammer” obliterated Iran’s nuclear program, a preliminary report from the Defense Intelligence Agency said the strikes set back Iran by only a few months.

In a statement to , the DIA called its report a “preliminary, low confidence assessment” and clarified officials “have still not been able to review the actual physical sites themselves, which will give us the best indication.”

Trump has blasted CNN, the New York Times and other outlets as “fake news” for reporting on the assessment, and Trump and Hegseth have claimed the report and its coverage disparaged U.S. military personnel involved in the attacks.

The DIA report did not take aim at military personnel it simply outlined what worked, and what didn’t, in the airstrikes.

Still, the administration is doubling down.

“There was a total and complete obliteration of Iran’s nuclear facilities,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “And because of the president’s strike, because of the precision of our United States military and this perfectly executed mission, Iran no longer has the capability to produce a nuclear weapon as imminently as they did prior to the strike.”

Senators are scheduled to receive a classified briefing Wednesday afternoon about the operation.

“Now, they’re trying to get away with sending only the secretary of state and defense … instead of the usual intelligence officials who attend the briefings,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., regarding the briefing.

He said the pair of top Trump officials would provide a “woefully insufficient” briefing.

“If they are the only ones in attendance, they will only parrot whatever the president wants them to say,” Schumer said.

Senior officials from the CIA and National Intelligence have said new intelligence shows the strikes did far more damage than originally reported.

‘s Anna Kutz contributed to this report.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Dutch activist is 'barred from Britain' after criticising Keir Starmer

Outspoken Dutch Activist Faces UK Ban After Criticizing Keir Starmer: A Controversial Move?

A Dutch campaigner known for her anti-migrant stance claims she has been…
US to halt immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, sparking debate on business, family risks

US Visa Suspension for 75 Nations: Impact on Business and Family Sparks Heated Debate

A local immigration lawyer believes this move will significantly affect both families…
'Alive and late is better than the alternative': Fog causes deadly multi-car pileup in California

Survive the Fog: Crucial Safety Tips After California’s Tragic Multi-Car Pileup

A sudden blanket of fog enveloped California’s Highway 99, resulting in a…
Ellen Greenberg's parents reveal last call with daughter's fiancé

Ellen Greenberg’s Parents Share Details from Final Phone Call with Her Fiancé

Sandee Greenberg doesn’t recall the precise day she last conversed with her…
Mom is charged after her two sons, 5 and 7, are found dead in NJ home

Mother Faces Charges Following Discovery of Her Two Sons Deceased in New Jersey Residence

A tragic incident unfolded in Hillsborough, New Jersey, as a mother faces…
FILE - NCAA logo displayed on the fence before an NCAA softball game between Jacksonville and FGCU, March 24, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough, File)

15 Ex-NCAA Players Indicted in Major College Basketball Game-Fixing Scandal

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In a significant legal development, federal prosecutors have announced…
Two 'foremost teams' emerge in Anthony Davis trade sweepstakes

Top Contenders Emerge in Race for Anthony Davis Trade

Trade talks are heating up for Anthony Davis, and the Atlanta Hawks…
Inside Gilgo Beach murder suspect's secret life behind bars

Unveiling the Hidden Prison Life of Gilgo Beach Murder Suspect: Shocking Details Revealed

Fresh insights have come to light regarding the initial hours of the…