US President Donald Trump has said the war with Iran will end “when I feel it in my bones”.
Trump was asked on The Brian Kilmeade Show about the timeline of the war, which he previously described as a “brief excursion”.
“When it’s over –– and I don’t think it’s going to be long –– when it’s over, this is going to bounce back so fast,” the president said.
The oblique response comes as America scaled up its attacks in Iran and signalled a further escalation.
On Wednesday he said there was “nothing left” to bomb in Iran.
But this morning he announced “one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East”.
Trump said he had destroyed every military target on what he described as “Iran’s crown jewel” – Kharg Island.
Meanwhile, thousands of ground troops are being deployed by the US military to the Middle East, according to reports.
The Wall Street Journal reports the Pentagon has approved moving an additional 5000 Marines and sailors into the region.
The request for more troops was made by US Central Command and approved by Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth.
The troops of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are attached to the USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship usually based in Japan.
Neither the Pentagon or the White House have confirmed whether the transfer of the ship to the region is coming ahead of a ground invasion of Iran.
But in order for the US to have substantial numbers of troops on the ground from an amphibious invasion, they would need a vessel like this.
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit specialises in amphibious invasions.
Already there are 50,000 US troops in the region, but Donald Trump has demurred on whether he will order a ground invasion of Iran.
But the Trump administration continues to tout their successes in the war.
“With each passing hour—we know, and we know that they know—that the military capabilities of their Evil Regime are crumbling,” Hegseth said today.
“They can barely communicate, let alone coordinate. They are confused; we know it.
“Our response: we will keep pressing. Keep pushing. Keep advancing. No quarter. And no mercy for our enemies.”
Overnight US Central Command confirmed that all crew aboard a refuelling aircraft had died after a crash.
The KC-135 crashed in western Iraq.
“The circumstances of the incident are under investigation,” a statement read.
“However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”
It takes the US death toll from the war to 13.
Strikes continued overnight, with Iran targeting oil infrastructure in the Gulf region.
Iran has appeared to have struck Bahrain, Oman, Dubai and Turkey overnight.
Meanwhile in Iran, a large explosion was reported during a mass gathering to mark Quds Day, an event held in support of Palestine.
While Trump has been active on social media in the past few hours, he has made little mention of Iran.
Instead he has posted twice about renovations to his renamed Trump-Kennedy Centre.
He also posted on Truth Social an attack on New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, who he called Maggot Hagerman.