US Defence Secretary Fires Pentagon Intelligence Chief Amid Tensions Over Iran Assessment

Pentagon Confirms Leadership Shake-up

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed Lt. Gen. Jeffery Kruse, head of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), in a major shake-up at the Pentagon. Two other senior commanders — the chief of US Naval Reserves and the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command — were also removed from their posts, the Pentagon confirmed Friday. No official reason was given for the firings.

Fallout from Iran Strike Report

The move follows a June controversy when a leaked DIA report concluded that US strikes on Iran had only set back its nuclear program by a few months. President Donald Trump strongly rejected the findings, declaring the report “flat out wrong” and insisting that Iranian nuclear sites had been “completely destroyed.”

At the NATO summit shortly after, Hegseth criticized the assessment, calling it “low intelligence,” and revealed that the FBI was investigating the source of the leak.

Political and Security Concerns

The dismissals have sparked criticism from lawmakers, who see them as part of a broader trend of political interference in intelligence work. Senator Mark Warner cautioned that Kruse’s sacking reflected “a dangerous habit of treating intelligence as a loyalty test rather than a safeguard for our country.”

Trump has previously removed officials whose analyses contradicted his public claims. In July, he fired Commissioner of Labor Statistics Erika McEntarfer after a report indicated slowing job growth. Earlier in April, he dismissed General Timothy Haugh as director of the National Security Agency, along with several staffers at the National Security Council.

A History of Pentagon Purges

Hegseth has also carried out other senior-level removals. In February, he dismissed Air Force General C.Q. Brown and five other high-ranking officers.

The DIA, which Kruse led, is responsible for gathering and analyzing military intelligence for the Department of Defense, providing crucial insights distinct from those of the CIA.

Kruse’s removal was first reported by The Washington Post.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Who was fired from the Pentagon?
Lt. Gen. Jeffery Kruse, director of the Defence Intelligence Agency, along with the chief of US Naval Reserves and the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command.

Q2: Why was Kruse removed?
The Pentagon did not provide a specific explanation. However, his dismissal comes shortly after a leaked DIA report contradicted President Trump’s claims about US strikes on Iran.

Q3: What did the DIA report say?
The report concluded that US attacks had only delayed Iran’s nuclear program by a few months. Trump dismissed this, claiming Iran’s nuclear facilities were “completely destroyed.”

Q4: Has this happened before?
Yes. Trump has previously fired officials, including the Commissioner of Labor Statistics and the NSA director, after their findings or reports conflicted with his positions.

Q5: What does the DIA do?
The Defence Intelligence Agency is part of the Pentagon. It specializes in military intelligence collection and analysis, supporting US operations worldwide.

Q6: Why is this firing controversial?
Critics argue that removing intelligence officials for disagreeing with political leaders undermines national security and turns intelligence into a loyalty test.

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