Pete Hegseth said the next round of U.S. strikes on Iran would be the largest yet, while Trump warned of even harsher action if Tehran did not meet U.S. demands. The White House used a rescue mission and a fast-moving deadline to sell the message.
The U.S. military says it struck a vessel in the Caribbean on Feb. 13, killing three people it describes as involved in drug trafficking. Officials place the action inside Operation Southern Spear, but independent details are limited.