US intel official who assessed Iran op fired

A leaked assessment of US airstrikes on Iran showed its nuclear programme was set back by only a few months

- Associated Press

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired a general whose agency's initial intelligence assessment of US damage to Iranian nuclear sites angered President Donald Trump, according to two people familiar with the decision and a White House official.

Lt Gen Jeffrey Kruse will no longer serve as head of the US Defence Intelligence Agency, according to the people, who spoke on Friday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss it publicly.

Hegseth also fired Vice Adm Nancy Lacore, who is chief of the Navy Reserve, as well as Rear Adm Milton Sands, a Navy SEAL officer who oversees Naval Special Warfare Command, another US official said.

No reasons were given for their firings, the latest in a series of steps targeting military leaders, intelligence officials and other perceived critics of Trump, who has demanded loyalty across the government.

The administration also stripped security clearances this week from additional current and former national security officials.

Taken together, the moves could chill dissent and send a signal against reaching conclusions at odds with Trumps interests.