Dismissal of the General After Assessment of Strikes on Iran

• General Jeffrey Cruz has been dismissed following an assessment of strikes on Iran.
• The Pentagon did not clarify the reasons for the general's dismissal.
• Cruz's dismissal has sparked concern among U.S. politicians.

Washington (AP) — U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, dismissed the general whose preliminary intelligence assessment regarding the recent attack on Iranian nuclear facilities angered President Donald Trump. Lieutenant General Jeffrey Cruz will no longer serve as the head of the U.S. military intelligence agency (DIA), sources say on condition of anonymity.

This dismissal is the latest in a series of changes among military leaders and intelligence agencies in the country. Earlier this year, leaks indicated that Iran's nuclear weapons program had been stalled for only a few months following the attack, which contradicted statements from Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

At a press conference following the attack in January, Hegseth criticized the CIA for, in his opinion, an overly optimistic assessment, but did not provide concrete evidence of the destruction of Iranian nuclear facilities. This week, the Pentagon also revealed plans to replace the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General David Alvina, two years before the scheduled term expires.

Cruz's dismissal was first reported by the Washington Post. Similar dismissals have occurred among other senior military officials in the U.S. Senator Mark Warner expressed concern that Cruz's dismissal reflects an alarming trend of Trump placing intelligence in dependence on loyalty, rather than as a means to protect the country.

Tags: USA/Politics