Pentagon fires general it says leaked classified information to media
United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, director of the Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for leaking classified information to journalists.
The firing comes amid reports that the US had warned its allies of a possible renewal of strikes against Iran. A Department of Defense official told Al Jazeera that Sylvia had been "meeting with journalists outside the Pentagon in order to leak classified information".
"Sylvia is the subject of an investigation for leaking classified information about the Iran war, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and more," the official added. The investigation remains ongoing and has been referred to the Department of Justice for further action.
Investigation Details
The official noted that Sylvia was the Defense Department's chief military planner but "was not a central planner for the Iran war". That is the responsibility of CENTCOM and its commander, Admiral [Brad] Cooper, the official said.
Sylvia failed three polygraphs which questioned him about leaking classified information," the Pentagon official said while accusing Sylvia of putting national security at risk.
Background
Sylvia's firing comes as President Donald Trump has repeatedly floated starting new military operations against Iran. Trump has promised to "finish the job" in Iran after launching the war with Israel eight months ago.
Sylvia is the second person to be ousted from the post, known in military circles as the J5, under Hegseth. His predecessor was forced to retire in October last year. Before arriving at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Sylvia served as commander of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Sean Parnel, assistant to the defense secretary for public affairs, said earlier on Thursday that "the Department of War has zero tolerance for the intentional, unauthorized disclosure of classified information." Sylvia is the latest senior Pentagon official whom Hegseth has accused of leaking to the media.
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