This is not a single overnight operation, top US General says; details months of military preparation of attack on Iran

“This is not a single overnight operation,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine said as he detailed the scope and preparation behind the latest U.S. military campaign against Iran, describing it as the culmination of months — and in some cases years — of deliberate planning.

Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, Caine said that on February 28 the full strength of America’s armed forces came together in unified action against what he called a capable and determined adversary.

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The U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard, along with reserve components, integrated across combatant commands and began coordinated operations with Israeli forces on an unprecedented scale.

“Our military objectives are clear,” Caine said. “Our mission is to protect and defend ourselves and, together with our regional partners, prevent Iran from the ability to project power outside of its borders.”

He said the Joint Force delivered synchronized and layered effects across land, air, sea and cyber domains, aimed at disrupting, degrading, denying and destroying Iran’s ability to conduct and sustain combat operations.

"The Joint Force began to systematically reposition assets and personnel across the region. These movements ensured that U.S. forces remained postured, protected, and ready to respond decisively for any emerging threat," he said.

"This deployment included thousands of service members from all branches, hundreds of advanced fourth and fifth generation fighters, dozens of refuelling tankers, USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, and their embarked air wings, sustained flow of munitions, fuel, supplies, all supported with command and control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance network," Caine added.

According to Caine, the operation reflects extensive preparation, including precision strikes against key military infrastructure, persistent intelligence collection and tightly coordinated targeting across vast distances.

In the 30 days leading up to the launch, U.S. forces were systematically repositioned across the region under orders from the secretary of defense to reinforce deterrence and provide President Donald Trump with credible military options.

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He highlighted the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, noting that the Gerald R. Ford redeployed from the Western Hemisphere across the Atlantic to help set the theater for combat operations.

He described the rapid buildup as a demonstration of the Joint Force’s ability to adapt and project power at the time and place of America’s choosing.

Caine also pointed to the role of reserve components, including the Wisconsin Army National Guard operating in Kuwait and Iraq, as well as Air National Guard units from several states. He said their integration underscored the depth and readiness of U.S. forces.

While calling the operation historic in scope and joint integration, Caine stressed that it is ongoing. “This work is just beginning and will continue,” he said, adding that additional forces are still flowing into the region as commanders assess progress and prepare for potential follow-on actions.