WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke on Monday to widening concerns that the U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran could spiral into a protracted regional conflict by declaring, “This is not Iraq. This is not endless," even as he warned that more American casualties are likely in the weeks ahead. Hegseth, along with Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held the Trump administration's first news briefing since Saturday's strikes. President Donald Trump, while he’s conducted a few phone interviews with individual reporters, has not taken questions on camera and instead released two videos since the operation began. Hegseth said the operation had a “clear, devastating, decisive mission” to eliminate the threat of Iranian ballistic missiles, destroy the country's navy and ensure “no nukes.” “No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmire, no democracy-building exercise, no politically correct wars. We fight to win, and we don’t waste time or lives,” Hegseth said. Trump administration officials, including Hegseth and Caine on Mon