4 US Fatalities Due to Iranian ‘Squirter’ Hitting Tactical Ops Center: Hegseth

Hegseth said that such incidents strengthen the military’s resolve.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a press conference on U.S. military action in Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington on March 2, 2026. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on March 2 that four U.S. service members were killed during the Iran conflict after an Iranian projectile—which he referred to as a “squirter”—penetrated American air defenses and struck a U.S. tactical operations center.

Hegseth emphasized that while air defense systems are highly capable, they are not flawless.