US Defence Secretary Requests Rp 3.3 Quadrillion in Funding, Iran War Has No Time Limit

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated that there is no timeframe for ending the US-Israel war against Iran. The Pentagon is requesting additional funding to sustain the war in the Middle East.

“We do not want to set a definite timeframe,” Hegseth said during a press conference, adding that “we are on the right track” and that President Donald Trump will decide when to stop, as reported by AFP on Friday (20/3/2026).

“Ultimately, there will be a choice for the President, where we say, ‘Hey, we have achieved what we need to achieve.’”

Hegseth also responded to reports that the Pentagon has requested more than $200 billion or Rp 3.3 quadrillion in additional funding from Congress to finance the conflict.

“Regarding the $200 billion, I think that figure could change. Clearly, money is needed to kill bad people,” Hegseth said.

“We will go back to Congress and the officials there to ensure that we get adequate funding for what has been done, and for what we may need to do in the future,” he said.

A high-ranking US military officer, General Dan Caine, who spoke alongside Hegseth, provided details on the weapons used against Iran and its allied forces in the region.

Caine said that A-10 Warthog aircraft—a type of plane designed for close air support—“are hunting and destroying fast-attack boats” in the vital waterway of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed to maritime traffic since the war began.

He also said that AH-64 Apache helicopters are being used in Iraq to target pro-Iran militia groups there, and that some US allies have begun using such attack helicopters to counter one-way drones launched by Tehran’s forces.