Pentagon Fires 1-Star General Over Leaked Iran and Ukraine Intel

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia from his position as the head of the Pentagon’s planning staff this week. Officials who were not authorized to speak publicly stated that Sylvia is the subject of a leak investigation.

The investigation was conducted by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed in a written statement that the probe concerned the release of classified information. He added that the matter has been referred to the Justice Department for possible legal action.

Officials allege that Sylvia shared information regarding Iran and Ukraine with reporters. No specific details have been released about what data was disclosed. The Air Force office’s involvement suggests the leak may relate to air strikes over Iran. These operations included thousands of strikes launched from airfields in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East earlier this year.

Sylvia is a West Point graduate and former commander of the 101st Airborne Division. He served in the current planning role for less than a year. His service record includes combat time in Afghanistan and Iraq. He holds a Purple Heart and six Bronze Star medals, including one for valor.

This dismissal adds to a growing list of senior military officers removed by Hegseth. Approximately two dozen senior officers have been let go without detailed explanations. Some were dismissed over disagreements regarding the deployment of U.S. troops on American streets. Others were removed because Hegseth believed their appointments were based on race or gender. A separate group was viewed as tied to former Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley. Trump investigated Milley for allegedly undermining the president, though that investigation is reportedly stalled.

The removal of Sylvia follows a previous classified information incident involving Hegseth. A Pentagon inspector general found that the secretary shared secret details about airstrikes in Yemen via a Signal chat. The chat included his wife, his brother, and others who did not hold top secret clearances. The information included aircraft launch times, the number of aircraft, and strike times. The inspector general stated that the data could have imperiled U.S. service members if intercepted. President Trump defended Hegseth at that time against calls for his replacement.

Congress is considering language for the upcoming defense bill that would restrict the firing of military personnel without first consulting lawmakers. A Hill staffer confirmed that this provision is under review. If Democrats take control of the House, scrutiny of Hegseth is expected to increase.

Sylvia’s role covered broad strategic planning and long-term policy development rather than direct command of the current Iran conflict. Operational command of the Iran war rests with Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, and regional air and naval forces. Hegseth has not held a formal press briefing since early May. Staff on Capitol Hill report that they are often kept uninformed on military matters.

The leak investigation has intensified a climate of fear within the Pentagon. Hegseth has threatened military officers with polygraph examinations and dismissed civilian staff members over reported infighting. The Justice Department is now the primary entity handling the case against Sylvia.