Hegseth dismisses impeachment push, calls Iran campaign necessary

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defended President Donald Trump's military campaign against Iran, Operation Epic Fury, as "necessary" despite Republican midterm setbacks, while dismissing impeachment efforts against him. Speaking at the Naval War College on Monday, Hegseth declined to blame the Vice President for linking the Iran war to Republican losses, and backed Trump's readiness for further military action. He urged Republican lawmakers to support a major military funding package, prioritizing intelligence, space, Iron Dome, munitions, and shipbuilding. Trump separately rallied behind Hegseth, calling impeachment sponsor Representative Thomas Massie a "loser" and vowing to stand by him. Hegseth also announced reforms to senior military colleges emphasizing warfighting, while declining to specify conditions for ending the Iran conflict.