Pete Hegseth Addresses Possible Refugee Surge Following US Military Action In Iran

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Thursday that the United States has no plans to admit a new wave of Middle Eastern refugees as the conflict with Iran unfolds.

President Donald Trump announced in a Truth Social video early Saturday that the U.S. military launched Operation Epic Fury alongside Israel’s Operation Lion’s Roar. During a press briefing about the Iran attack, a reporter asked whether the Trump administration had safeguards in place to prevent a surge of refugees entering the United States.

“I‘m wondering if there‘s any safeguards put in place to make sure that the American people aren‘t having to have another wave of refugees?” one reporter asked.

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“I think it‘s safe to say there‘s no plan for a wave of new Middle Eastern refugees to the United States of America. I think, as the president has pointed out for a long time, there are a lot of countries in the region who would be capable of providing that kind of support if need be,” Hegseth said.

Early casualty trackers estimate around 1,230 people have been killed in Iran since the U.S.–Israeli strikes began. The attacks have displaced