Hegseth fires Pentagon’s top strategist accused of leaks amid Iran war

WASHINGTON — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired the Pentagon’s top war campaign strategist early this week, accusing him of leaking classified information to the press about the war with Iran and Russia’s war in Ukraine, two defense officials confirmed to Al-Monitor. The ouster of US Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, who headed the Joint Staff’s policy, plans and strategy office, known as the J5, comes as the Trump administration is weighing whether to resume intensive attacks on Iran after the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

Sylvia, an Army officer with more than three decades of experience who previously led the 101st Airborne Division, has become the latest in a string of more than a dozen generals and admirals dismissed by Hegseth since 2024. His dismissal was first reported by the Atlantic. While Sylvia's former role did not include drafting the US military’s plans for war with Iran, he was responsible for approving those plans and weighing them against the potential costs and benefits to other potential future US military campaigns and operations across the globe.