Fact-checking Trump's statements on Iran

Let's bring in CBS News national security analyst Aaron MacLean He's also the host of the School of Warpodcast. Help us understand, Aaron. The president keeps saying that Iran's military is nearly gone. In fact, we heard over the course of the last four months that they were decimated, their ballistic missile capabilities were decimated, their drone capabilities were decimated. But now two more US service members have been killed. A third is MIA after that Iranian missile strike in Jordan. Does there seem to be a disconnect between what the president and the secretary of state, the secretary of defense are selling to the American people versus what is actually happening on the ground? Well, there's certainly a difference, Vlad, between capabilities being degraded and capabilities being destroyed. And Iran obviously retains the ability to hit back, as they've been doing day after day since this recent round of fighting flared up and then tragically over the weekend, scoring a hit that caused American deaths. And these ballistic missile strikes and the combination of ballistic missiles and drones, the Iranians can adjust their tactics from day to day, which puts pressure on the American air defenders in terms of how they can intercept things. It's sort of striking that we've gone this far without American casualties, despite how much stuff has been flying through the sky. But finally, it has happened, and we're waiting to see how the United States really responds.

Aaron, do we know anything about what kind of protection or cover our troops had in Jordan given the fact that two were killed, a third is missing, and there were many other injuries after this weekend's attacks? Well, they'll be hardened shelters, essentially concrete, reinforced concrete walls and ceilings, things like that. Depending on the base, you may also have underground facilities. It may be the case that not everyone has access to underground facilities. And obviously, that's more dangerous when you're above ground in any circumstances. There are also videos widely circulating on the internet of this strike, clearly taken by US servicemen who were not inside of a shelter as they took the video. So I think you have to also address the timing, the way in which you're announcing getting to shelter, all the kinds of tactics like that are going to get a thorough review after an incident like this. And we're already on the ninth straight night of fighting in this latest round. We've talked about how both sides seem to be expressing that they're winning, but yet we continue to be approaching-- are we approaching some kind of stalemate here? Well, this is the question of the day. The president keeps talking about the war in terms of the need to eliminate Iran's nuclear program. But as Charlie D'Agata just pointed out a few minutes ago here on the show, the American strikes are not targeting the nuclear program. They're targeting the Strait of Hormuz. And in fact, what is happening militarily really is a battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian retaliation across the region about American efforts occurring there in and around the Strait. The administration needs to explain what its strategy is and how it's focused on the strait and why it's focused on the strait. And then they need to demonstrate progress in showing they can get friendly shipping through there while slowing Iranian shipping down. In the absence of that explanation, in the absence of that progress, I think Americans are going to start to conclude that what appears to be a strategic tit for tat is not making progress. All right, Aaron MacLean, thank you so much. Thanks, Aaron. Thank you, guys.