Tensions inside the Pentagon have intensified following the launch of a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth facing growing internal backlash. According to a report by the Daily Mail, citing multiple sources, many officials within the department have lost confidence in his leadership.

The outlet reports that four military personnel and three civilian officials said even those who had previously maintained a degree of trust in Hegseth have now reconsidered their stance. His remarks on the conflict, they claim, are causing serious concern among colleagues and are widely viewed as reckless.

Particular outrage was triggered by comments Hegseth made during a prayer event at the Pentagon. Sources say he called on God to unleash wrath and spoke about the need for crushing acts of violence against Iran, framing the situation in terms of a kind of sacred war. Within the department, such rhetoric has been described as impulsive, excessively aggressive, and far outside acceptable boundaries.

One official indicated that Hegseth’s conduct reflected a lack of impartiality and a disregard for the level of professionalism required for the role, especially in wartime.

Some sources also pointed to what they described as hypocrisy in his behavior. According to them, discussions within the Pentagon have touched on allegations of excessive alcohol use, as well as references to a 2017 case involving accusations of sexual assault. One source added that Hegseth himself had allegedly acknowledged multiple extramarital affairs during his military service.