The United States defense establishment has been rocked by a high-level internal ouster, reflecting deep-seated institutional friction. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly dismissed Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, the director of the Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, citing severe misconduct and unauthorized disclosures of sensitive state secrets.

According to a Department of Defense official speaking on condition of anonymity, Sylvia was supposedly caught meeting with journalists outside the Pentagon to leak classified briefings pertaining to potential actions against Iran, as well as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The Pentagon claims that the ongoing investigation has already been formally referred to the Department of Justice for further legal evaluation.

Furthermore, defense officials alleged that Sylvia failed three separate polygraph examinations regarding the unauthorized release of classified material, prompting what the administration called an urgent necessity to safeguard national security. This abrupt termination unfolds amid broader reports that the US regime has purportedly warned allied nations about a potential resumption of military strikes in the Middle East.

Sylvia’s removal marks the second time a high-ranking official leading the critical J5 directorate has been ousted under the current leadership, following a series of similar internal purges and lie detector tests directed by Hegseth. As President Donald Trump continues to signal aggressive foreign policy stances, the persistent leaks and subsequent shake-ups highlight ongoing administrative volatility within Washington's military command.

Source: www.aljazeera.com