US officials on Wednesday claimed progress in their military campaign against Iran, vowing to crush Tehran’s government “without mercy” even as reports of civilian casualties continue to rise.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the US military is operating with “little restraint,” asserting that Iranian leaders face constant airstrikes from US and Israeli forces, according to Al Jazeera report.

“We are punching them while they’re down, which is exactly how it should be,” he said, describing jets “bringing death and destruction from the sky all day long.”

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt echoed Hegseth, stating that the US will continue “raining missiles and weapons down on Iran” to hit targets deemed crucial by the Department of War.

Iranian officials condemned the remarks, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei calling them an admission of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He detailed strikes on schools, hospitals, residential buildings, street markets and medical centres, including a February 28 attack on a girls’ school in Minab that killed 165 people.

US Senate backs Trump on expanding Iran war

Leavitt said the Pentagon is investigating the Minab incident and maintained that US forces “do not target civilians.”

Despite the strikes, the Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has been largely neutralised, yet the Islamic Republic system remains intact. The war has sparked regional tensions, with missiles and drones reportedly targeting Gulf civilian infrastructure.

President Donald Trump hailed the campaign, rating its success “about 15” on a scale of 10, signalling continued US support for military operations in the region.