WASHINGTON 

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that he visited the Middle East on Saturday as joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran continue.

“Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to visit our troops fighting in Operation Epic Fury. We were on the ground in CENTCOM on Saturday for about half the day," Hegseth told a news conference alongside Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Hegseth did not specify which facilities were visited so they are "not targeted," adding that the trip was "an honor."

"American firepower is only increasing. Iran's is decreasing. We have more and more options," he said.

On Monday night alone, Hegseth said, the US conducted 200 dynamic strikes.

"The video the president posted last night of Isfahan -- an ammo depot struck by US bombers," he said.

On Monday, President Donald Trump posted uncensored and uncaptioned video of massive explosions.

Separately, giving an update on Operation Epic Fury against Iran, US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the US is making "undeniable progress" in eliminating Iran's ability to project power.

In a video message on US social media company X, Cooper said that during the trip, he recognized and awarded US troops for their "courage, resilience and tenacity."

"I met with our service members who are operating the most sophisticated and largest active air defense umbrella in the world, right here in the Middle East, to defend against Iran's indiscriminate missile and drone attacks," Cooper said.