An American media personality has gone viral after making bold claims about American military strength during a briefing on tensions with Iran.American journalist and conservative media personality Riley Podleski said this week that the US used “less than 10%” of its combat power in the operation against Iran. His comments came in an official video update published by the War Department.Speaking as Pentagon assistant press secretary in the War Department’s weekly sitrep video, Podleski said, “The new Iranian regime understood that a deal was far better than the fate that awaited them. Our war fighters made history with their tremendous victory on the battlefield.” His comments came after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran.At an introductory Pentagon briefing last week, War Secretary Pete Hegseth also underlined the scale of US military capability, claiming the forces had destroyed one of the world’s largest armies while using only a fraction of their strength. He said, “The world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism proved completely incapable of defending itself, its people, or its territory. We mobilized only a part of our strength and Iran suffered a devastating military defeat.”Podleski went on to credit US President Donald Trump for the unprecedented action. He said, “We own their skies, we destroyed their navy, destroyed their missile program and rendered useless their defense industrial base.”He also detailed a dramatic Easter weekend rescue mission. According to Podleski, an F-15 Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran on April 3. Within 48 hours, the US military launched two rescue operations involving more than 170 aircraft. Describing the moment a crew member signaled for help, she said her first message was: “God is good.” He added, “Shooted down on Good Friday. Hiding in a cave all Saturday and rescued on Sunday. Flown out of Iran at sunrise on Easter Sunday.”“Along with his government-facing role, Podleski is known for his work with conservative digital outlets. He has built his following through on-the-ground reporting and social media content, often covering protests, immigration debates, and campus politics. His reporting generally includes a right-wing viewpoint.