Latest news with #Kurilla
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
US military evaluating options to prevent nuclear-armed Iran, general says
FILE PHOTO: Lieutenant General Michael Kurilla testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on his nomination to become Commander of Central Command during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., February 8, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File photo WASHINGTON - The top U.S. general overseeing American forces in the Middle East said on Tuesday there were a range of options when asked if the military was prepared to respond with overwhelming force to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. "I have provided the secretary of defense and the president with a wide range of options," U.S. Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), told a congressional hearing. Kurilla was responding to Representative Mike Rogers of Alabama, the chairman of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, who asked if CENTCOM was prepared to respond with overwhelming force if Iran does not permanently give up its nuclear ambitions. "I take that as a yes?" the Alabama Republican asked, after Kurilla responded. "Yes," Kurilla said. Iran said on Monday it would soon hand a counterproposal for a nuclear deal to the United States in response to a U.S. offer that Tehran deems unacceptable, while U.S. President Donald Trump said talks would continue. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
US military evaluating options to prevent nuclear-armed Iran, general says
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The top U.S. general overseeing American forces in the Middle East said on Tuesday there were a range of options when asked if the military was prepared to respond with overwhelming force to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. "I have provided the secretary of defense and the president with a wide range of options," U.S. Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), told a congressional hearing. Kurilla was responding to Representative Mike Rogers of Alabama, the chairman of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, who asked if CENTCOM was prepared to respond with overwhelming force if Iran does not permanently give up its nuclear ambitions. "I take that as a yes?" the Alabama Republican asked, after Kurilla responded. "Yes," Kurilla said. Iran said on Monday it would soon hand a counterproposal for a nuclear deal to the United States in response to a U.S. offer that Tehran deems unacceptable, while U.S. President Donald Trump said talks would continue.
Shafaq News
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
CENTCOM: Over 800 Houthi targets hit since March in Yemen
Shafaq News/ The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday that it has conducted "an intense and sustained campaign" against the Houthi movement in Yemen since mid-March. The statement, released hours after General Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander of US Central Command, visited the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), emphasized that operations have been carried out using "detailed and comprehensive intelligence ensuring lethal effects against the Houthis while minimizing risk to civilians." During his visit to the USS Carl Vinson, Kurilla thanked the Sailors for their "professionalism, competence, and dedication in support of continuous operations against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen." US forces launched fresh strikes yesterday targeting Houthi military assets, adding to months of pressure aimed at degrading the group's ability to threaten international shipping routes. CENTCOM stated that since the start of Operation Rough Rider, over 800 targets were hit, and hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous senior leaders, including missile and UAV officials, have been killed. "The strikes have destroyed multiple command-and-control facilities, air defense systems, advanced weapons manufacturing facilities, and advanced weapons storage locations," CENTCOM said. These facilities housed "advanced conventional weapons, including anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles, unmanned aerial systems, and uncrewed surface vessels" used in attacks on international maritime routes, it added. CENTCOM stressed that "to preserve operational security, we have intentionally limited disclosing details of our ongoing or future operations," adding that "we are very deliberate in our operational approach, but will not reveal specifics about what we've done or what we will do." According to the statement, attacks by Houthi ballistic missiles have dropped by 69%, and strikes by one-way attack drones have decreased by 55% since the operations intensified. US strikes also targeted Ras Isa Port, destroying its ability to accept fuel — a move CENTCOM said will "begin to impact Houthi ability to not only conduct operations, but also to generate millions of dollars in revenue for their terror activities." While the Houthis have continued to launch attacks, CENTCOM noted that the effectiveness and frequency of these operations have been significantly degraded. The statement also underscored Iran's ongoing support for the Houthis, saying, "The Houthis can only continue to attack our forces with the backing of the Iranian regime." "We will continue to ratchet up the pressure until the objective is met," the statement concluded, reaffirming that the goal remains "the restoration of freedom of navigation and American deterrence in the region." — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 27, 2025
NBC News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Info Hegseth shared with wife and brother came from top general's secure messages
WASHINGTON — Minutes before U.S. fighter jets took off to begin strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen last month, Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, who leads U.S. Central Command, used a secure U.S. government system to send detailed information about the operation to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The material Kurilla sent included details about when U.S. fighters would take off and when they would hit their targets — details that could, if they fell into the wrong hands, put the pilots of those fighters in grave danger. But he was doing exactly what he was supposed to: providing Hegseth, his superior, with information he needed to know and using a system specifically designed to safely transmit sensitive and classified information. But then Hegseth used his personal phone to send some of the same information Kurilla had given him to at least two group text chats on the Signal messaging app, three U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the exchanges told NBC News. The sequence of events, which has not been previously reported, could raise new questions about Hegseth's handling of the information, which he and the government have denied was classified. In all, according to the two sources, less than 10 minutes elapsed between Kurilla's giving Hegseth the information and Hegseth's sending it to the two group chats, one of which included other Cabinet-level officials and their designees — and, inadvertently, the editor of The Atlantic magazine. The other group included Hegseth's wife, his brother, his attorney and some of his aides. Hegseth shared the information on Signal even though, NBC News has reported, an aide warned him in the days beforehand to be careful not to share sensitive information on an unsecure communications system before the Yemen strikes, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter. 'No classified material was ever shared via Signal,' said the Pentagon's chief spokesman, Sean Parnell, who called the allegations 'an attempt to sabotage President Trump and Secretary Hegseth.' Appearing Tuesday morning on 'Fox & Friends,' the Fox News show whose weekend edition he previously hosted, Hegseth said: 'What was shared over Signal, then and now, however you characterize it, was informal, unclassified coordinations for media coordination, other things. That's what I've said from the beginning.' President Donald Trump tapped Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, for a job for which Democrats and even some Republicans worried he was not qualified. Now, in the wake of the revelation of the second Signal chat that included his wife and his brother, which The New York Times first reported Sunday afternoon, he faces calls for his dismissal even as Trump stands behind him. 'Pete's doing a great job; everybody's happy with him,' Trump said Monday at the White House Easter Egg Roll. 'There's no dysfunction.' Hegseth was also defiant at the event, dismissing the reports, though not specifically denying them. 'This is what the media does,' he said, adding, 'It's not going to work with me, because we're changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war fighters, and anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesn't matter.' At least one member of Trump's own party sees it differently. Rep. Don Bacon, of Nebraska, who is on the House Armed Services Committee, on Monday became the first sitting Republican member of Congress to publicly call on Hegseth to resign. 'I had concerns from the get-go because Pete Hegseth didn't have a lot of experience,' said Bacon, a retired Air Force general. 'I like him on Fox, but does he have the experience to lead one of the largest organizations in the world? That's a concern.' Two Trump advisers, speaking on condition of anonymity Monday, dismissed the idea that Hegseth will be fired. 'There is no talk right now of removing or replacing him. We have been through this before, and as of the moment, it's just not something we are talking about,' one said. The other said: 'The idea something like this would force him out is not reality. The president still supports him.' A former senior official in Trump's first administration, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing fear of retaliation, expressed bafflement at Hegseth's decision to share the information about the Yemen strike with his wife and his brother. 'I can't imagine a scenario where national security officials would see fit to share sensitive details about policy and planning with family members who don't have a need to know,' the former official said. 'To do it over an unclassified messaging app is even more egregious.'
Irish Daily Star
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Star
Hegseth leak to wife and brother 'came from CENTCOM general's secure messages'
New information regarding last month's Signal group chat debacle involving Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has emerged, stating that Hegseth reportedly relayed information from Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, who leads U.S. Central Command . According to NBC, the material sent by Kurilla allegedly contained details about when U.S. fighters would take off and when they would hit their targets. The information, should it have fallen into the enemy's hands, could have put the fighter and their pilots in considerable danger. Three U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the exchanges told the news outlet that Hegseth allegedly used his personal phone to send the information transmitted by Kurilla to at least two group chats using the Signal app . Two sources later revealed that less than 10 minutes had elapsed between the time Hegseth had received the information from Kurilla and when he sent it out to two group chats. According to the sources, one group included other Cabinet-level officials and their designees — and, inadvertently, the editor of The Atlantic magazine while the second contained Hegseth's wife and brother . Read More Related Articles Deranged Donald Trump posts mad 184-word Easter message taking aim at all his enemies Read More Related Articles Donald Trump branded 'dumbest President ever' after six-word comment about Congo NBC previously reported that an aide to the Secretary of Defense allegedly warned him in the days leading up to the strikes to be careful with the information. Since it was reported by The Atlantic, many of Trump's officials have claimed that there was nothing classified about the information sent. 'No classified material was ever shared via Signal,' said the Pentagon's chief spokesman, Sean Parnell, who called the allegations 'an attempt to sabotage President Trump and Secretary Hegseth.' Since the news of the second group chat has been made public, both Hegseth and the White House have been on damage control. During an interview on Fox and Friends Tuesday morning, Hegseth launched a verbal attack on the alleged "disgruntled" former employees who, he claims, made up the chat. "Brian, I want this to be very clear," Hegseth said to Brian Kilmeade. "We take the classification of new information very importantly. It's very important to us that we safeguard it." "And so when we've had leaks, which we have had. We did a serious leak investigation and through that leak investigation, unfortunately, we have found some folks that we believe were not holding to the protocols that we hold dear here at the Defense Department," he added. 'Through that investigation, they have been moved on, and that investigation continues." Hegseth touted that everything done at the Pentagon is "above board" and that they were trying to safeguard information. "At this point, those folks who had been leaking are now attempting to leak and sabotage the president's agenda." The news also comes as rumors fly that the Defense Secretary is on the outs with the White House . An anonymous U.S. official told NPR that the search started recently. Karoline Leavitt slammed the NPR story reporting that a search for Hegseth's replacement was underway and called it "fake news." "This @NPR story is total FAKE NEWS based on one anonymous source who clearly has no idea what they are talking about," Leavitt penned on X early Monday afternoon. "As the President said this morning, he stands strongly behind @SecDef." President Donald Trump also touted his support for Hegseth. "It's just fake news. They just bring up stories," President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday. "I guess it sounds like disgruntled employees. You know, he was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people, and that's what he's doing. So, you don't always have friends when you do that."
