Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced a second day of intense questioning before the Senate Armed Services Committee regarding the ongoing military engagement with Iran. Lawmakers pressed the secretary on critical operational and ethical issues stemming from the conflict.
A central point of contention was the rising civilian death toll reported in the theater of operations. Several senators demanded clearer accountability measures from the Pentagon for non-combatant casualties.
Hegseth was directly confronted with an accusation that he had made antisemitic remarks during a closed-door meeting with military aides. The secretary firmly denied the allegation, calling it a mischaracterization of a policy discussion.
The role of women in combat roles also drew sharp scrutiny. Multiple lawmakers questioned whether current policies had been altered during the conflict, challenging the secretary on reported changes to deployment standards.
The secretary’s responses sought to reaffirm his commitment to both military effectiveness and adherence to department regulations. He emphasized that all combat roles remained open to qualified personnel.
Hegseth also faced pointed questions regarding the administration’s endgame strategy for the conflict. He outlined a plan focused on degrading Iran’s offensive capabilities while avoiding a broader regional war.
The hearing concluded with no immediate resolution on the key grievances raised. The committee indicated it would continue reviewing the department’s actions in the coming weeks.
