Hegseth’s ‘No Quarter’ Vow Draws Immediate Legal Rebuke

Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. would give “no quarter, no mercy for our enemies” during a Pentagon briefing on the Iran war.
• His remark came as he described Iranian leadership as chaotic and asserted the regime’s military capabilities were crumbling.
• The ICRC defines “no quarter” as refusing to spare lives, including those attempting to surrender, a practice barred under the laws of war.
• The ICC statute lists declaring that no quarter will be given as a war crime, and the Defense Department’s Law of War Manual forbids such declarations.
• Journalists and legal experts warned the statement, if meant as policy, could constitute a war crime, while noting no official disciplinary action or investigation has been reported.