US Eyes Complete Air Superiority Over Iran as Conflict Nears 1 Week

U.S. military leaders reported strikes on more than 20 Iranian warships and significant drops in Iranian drone and missile attacks since Feb. 28.

Plumes of smoke rise over the skyline following explosions in Tehran, Iran, on March 1, 2026. Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, Va.—U.S. and Israeli forces are continuing to expand their reach into Iranian airspace and expect the skies to be completely uncontested in a matter of days, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced on March 4.

Speaking at a Pentagon news briefing as the joint U.S.–Israel military operations against Iran neared the one-week mark, Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine described how the joint operation is grinding down Iranian offensive and defensive capabilities.