Hegseth dismisses chief of Pentagon intelligence agency, along with other high-ranking officials in recent decisive action

In a surprising turn of events, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed several top military commanders, including Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse, the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). The firings, reported by the Washington Post, have sparked controversy and raised questions about the motives behind the decisions.

The dismissal of Kruse came after a preliminary DIA assessment leaked to the news media, stating that the June 22 US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities had set Tehran's program back only a few months. This finding contradicted President Trump's claim that the targets were "obliterated."

Kruse's removal, along with other senior military commanders, was perceived as the latest attempt by the Trump administration to penalize officials whose views are at odds with the President. The exact number of officials fired by Hegseth was not specified, but it includes the chief of the US Air Force, Air Force General CQ Brown, who was dismissed in February, and five other admirals and generals.

The firings occurred on a Friday, but the exact date was not specified. Hegseth also ordered the removal of the chief of US Naval reserves and the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command.

The reasons for the firings were not immediately clear. However, it is unknown why these officials were dismissed, and the Trump administration has not provided any public explanations.

The purge of US military and intelligence officers and diplomats did not stop with these high-profile dismissals. In April, General Timothy Haugh was fired as director of the National Security Agency by Trump. The administration has conducted a sweeping purge, including more than a dozen staff at the White House national security council.

The leaking of the assessment enraged Trump, who denounced it as "flat out wrong" and attacked CNN, the New York Times, and other outlets that obtained the report, calling them "scum" and "FAKE NEWS." US Senator Mark Warner criticized the firings, stating they underscore the Trump administration's dangerous habit of treating intelligence as a loyalty test.

In a separate development, US Senator Tulsi Gabbard announced the first major overhaul of her office since its creation, slashing personnel by more than 40% by October 1 and saving more than $700 million per year.

As the dust settles from these significant personnel changes, the public and the political sphere await further clarification on the reasons behind the dismissals and the implications for US national security.

Hegseth dismisses chief of Pentagon intelligence agency, along with other high-ranking officials in recent decisive action