Overview
- In a March 13 briefing on the Iran war, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged “no quarter, no mercy” and dismissed “stupid rules of engagement,” saying the fight would be waged with “maximum authorities.”
- International law specialists note that “no quarter” denotes killing fighters who attempt to surrender, which is prohibited under the Geneva Conventions, and they add that rhetoric becomes criminal if issued as an order that leads to such acts.
- The Boston Globe reported that a Tomahawk strike allegedly hit a girls’ elementary school in Iran, with more than 170 people said to have been killed, mostly children, which Hegseth said is under investigation.
- Hegseth is directing the administration’s operations against Iran, reported as a joint effort with Israel, and he has drawn sustained scrutiny for past security lapses tied to ‘Signalgate’ after sharing details of classified planning in Signal chats.
- Coverage also highlights the administration’s combative messaging, including reports that the official White House TikTok posts missile-strike footage intercut with video-game graphics.