Former Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie said today that U.S. military operations against Iran are expected to continue for several more weeks, with airstrikes remaining the primary focus and only limited ground involvement anticipated for specific objectives.

Speaking during an appearance on Newsmax’s “The Count,” Wilkie indicated that the current stage of the conflict is still ongoing and far from complete.

“I think that the air campaign has at least another month to go,” Wilkie said.

“The air campaign is designed to last a couple of months at least,” he said.

Wilkie pointed to Iran’s vast size and dispersed military infrastructure as major factors contributing to the extended timeline.

“This is a country that’s twice the size of Texas,” he said. “It has 90 million people.

“The ayatollahs have scattered their ballistic missile and drone facilities across this massive country.”

He added that U.S. strategy could shift toward securing key positions in the Persian Gulf, including Kharg Island, which he described as crucial to Iran’s economic operations.

“Those Marines and the paratroopers will secure one of the islands in the Gulf, establish a base there, maybe even Kharg,” Wilkie said.

“That cuts off the ability of the Iranians to maintain their economy,” he said.

While public opinion has shown reluctance toward sending U.S. ground forces, Wilkie said such hesitation is understandable but warned that airpower alone is not enough to win a war.

“No war has ever been won from the air in the hundred or so years that we’ve been trying this,” he said.

At the same time, he stressed that any ground involvement would likely remain limited rather than evolve into a large-scale campaign.

“We don’t have enough troops in the area, nor do I think the president has planned to send enough troops to instigate a massive ground campaign,” Wilkie said.

Instead, he described a more focused mission for any deployed forces.

“What those troops are there for is to create a base … destroy those, get out and reestablish control of the straits,” he said, referring to operations aimed at securing critical waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz.

Regarding diplomatic efforts in the region, including talks taking place in Pakistan, Wilkie voiced doubt that meaningful progress would result.

“I don’t expect much to come out of this.

“Not one person in that region would believe anything that the ayatollahs say,” he said.

He suggested that Pakistan’s involvement may be driven by its own strategic interests and desire for U.S. support amid regional tensions.

“I think they want American help,” Wilkie said.

Responding to comments from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that U.S. goals could be achieved without deploying ground troops, Wilkie said military plans must remain adaptable.

“The enemy does get a vote,” he said.

He added that limited ground operations are often part of planning for securing vital maritime routes.

“I’ve never seen a plan or a war game at the Pentagon that didn’t include some sort of ground raids in order to flush out the dangers to that strategic waterway,” Wilkie said.

Wilkie also criticized segments of the media for their portrayal of the conflict.

“There have been a lot in the mainstream media … who’ve been cheering against victory, against success,” he said.

He argued that such coverage fails to account for the broader strategic rationale behind the campaign.

“They don’t see the strategic reasons for doing this that are in the interest of the United States,” Wilkie said.

The war has now entered a new phase, as U.S. officials point to progress in weakening Iran’s military capabilities while continuing to emphasize that all options remain on the table depending on how the situation develops.

{Matzav.com}