Since an Israeli strike at the beginning of the conflict that resulted in the deaths of many of his family members, including his father and wife, no images of Khamenei have been released.
His first public comments were delivered in a statement read by a TV presenter on Thursday. In the statement, he affirmed his commitment to keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed and urged neighboring countries to shut down US military bases on their soil or face potential retaliation from Iran.
“We are aware that the new self-proclaimed ‘not so supreme leader’ is injured and likely disfigured. He issued a statement yesterday. It was rather feeble, and notably absent of any voice or video. It was a written statement,” Hegseth revealed during a press briefing.
“Iran possesses numerous cameras and voice recording devices. So, why opt for a written statement? I believe the reason is apparent. His father – deceased. He is fearful, wounded, evading capture, and lacks credibility.”
According to an Iranian official cited by Reuters, the newly appointed supreme leader sustained minor injuries but continues to fulfill his duties, despite being described as war-‌wounded on state television.
Hegseth was accompanied by General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during the briefing, where they underscored the US military’s efforts to disable Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, as well as its navy.
INCREASED US MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE REGION
At the briefing, Hegseth declared that the United States would show no leniency in the conflict.
“We will persist, continue to advance, and keep pushing forward. No mercy, no quarter for our adversaries,” Hegseth affirmed.
“No quarter” refers to the act of refusing to spare the life of an individual who has expressed a desire to surrender, which is prohibited by law.
“International humanitarian law explicitly prohibits the utilization of this tactic, which entails ordering the elimination of all survivors, using this as a threat against the enemy, or conducting military operations based on this principle,” as outlined by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Hegseth has taken steps to overhaul the top ranks of the military justice system by replacing the judge advocates general for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Over the past 14 days, the United States has targeted over 6,000 sites in Iran. The relentless US-Israeli airstrikes have resulted in approximately 2,000 casualties in Iran.
Two US officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the Pentagon was dispatching additional troops to the region, including the USS Tripoli along with its Marine expeditionary unit. The amphibious assault ship, currently positioned in the Asia-Pacific region, has the capacity to accommodate fighter jets.
Despite the US-led offensives against Iran, reports indicate an increase in Iranian drone activity over Kuwait, Iraq, the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman.
Furthermore, a tragic incident occurred on Friday when a US military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, resulting in the deaths of six US service members. The US clarified that the crash involved another aircraft and was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.
Since the initiation of US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran on February 28, a total of 11 US military personnel have lost their lives.
