Pentagon Honors Fallen Service Members During Operation Epic Fury

At a March 2, 2026 Pentagon briefing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed casualties from Operation Epic Fury. He said, “War is hell and always will be,” honoring the four Americans who have died and those injured in ongoing operations. Hegseth called them “the absolute best of America” and emphasized that the remainder of the operation would be conducted decisively, without hesitation, to honor their sacrifice. He described the effort as “Epic Fury for them and the thousands of Americans before them,” underscoring the high stakes of the campaign.