Trump says strikes against Iran will take 'four weeks or less'

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - US President Donald Trump said Sunday that the joint US-Israeli campaign launched Saturday against Iran is expected to last around four weeks.

"It's always been a four-week process," Trump told the Daily Mail. "As strong as it is, it's a big country, it'll take four weeks — or less," he added.

The remarks came as the operation entered its second day.

US forces had struck Iranian command centers, ballistic missile sites, naval vessels and air defense systems in the opening 24 hours, deploying B-2 stealth bombers, fighter jets, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and guided-missile destroyers, among other assets, according to CENTCOM.

Trump said earlier that 48 Iranian leaders had been eliminated and that operations were "ahead of schedule."

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Gulf countries. Three US service members have been killed and five seriously wounded since operations began.