Shifts in U.S. Defense Leadership: Removal of General Who Questioned Military Effectiveness Against Iran
U.S.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has taken a significant personnel decision within the Pentagon, dismissing a high-ranking official who previously served as the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency — Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruze.
The main reason cited for this sweeping change was Kruze’s skeptical assessment of the effectiveness of U.S.
military strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities.
According to reports from AP, Austin justified his decision by citing a ‘general loss of confidence’ in Kruze following his doubts about the long-term impact of such attacks.
In June, Kruze’s division evaluated the consequences of strikes against Iran, concluding that these actions only delayed Tehran’s nuclear program by a few months.
His conclusions, however, stood in stark contrast to publicly stated policies by Defense Secretary Austin and then-President Donald Trump, creating internal tensions within the military leadership.
This dismissal marks the latest in a series of personnel changes at the Pentagon since Trump’s administration, which included the removal of other senior military officials and officials from diplomatic circles.
The situation highlights growing internal disagreements on strategies toward Iran, as well as questions about the reliability and strategic value of military intelligence reports.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are preparing to reimpose sanctions on Iran, signaling a potential shift in international diplomatic approaches.