Pentagon fires general it says leaked classified information to media

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate. The Pentagon says Sylvia met journalists to leak classified information concerning the Iran war, the Russia-Ukraine war and other matters; the investigation is ongoing and has been referred to the Department of Justice. A Defense Department official said Sylvia was the department’s chief military planner but was not a central planner for the Iran war, a responsibility assigned to CENTCOM and its commander, Admiral Brad Cooper. The official also said Sylvia failed three polygraph tests concerning the alleged leaks.