Hegseth’s ‘no mercy’ Iran directive sounds alarm with Democrats who told military to refuse illegal orders

Democrats who infuriated President Donald Trump when they said that U.S. military service members can refuse illegal orders are now sounding the alarm over Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s recent comments that the U.S. military would give “no quarter” in prosecuting the administration’s war in Iran.

Last week, Hegseth offered harsh words about how the United States would conduct its military operations in Iran.

“We will keep pressing,” he said. “We will keep pushing, keep advancing, no quarter, no mercy for our enemies.”

But the words alarmed many since the legal definition of giving “no quarter” means to kill enemy combatants rather than taking them prisoner. And “no mercy” only amplified that interpretation. The Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibit the practice.

Last year, a coterie of Democratic members of the House and Senate who worked in the national security space or served in the military released a video saying that U.S. military service members could refuse illegal orders from their superiors.

The group included Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan along with Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris DeLuzio of Pennsylvania, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire.

In response, Trump accused the lawmakers of committing “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR,” which he called “punishable by DEATH.” But Hegseth’s words seemed to vindicate their fears.

“I mean, it just continues, just the irresponsible way he’s showing leadership in this war,” Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, told The Independent. Houlahan offered a more blunt criticism.

“If he operates that way, that is a war crime,” Houlahan told The Independent.

Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut and naval officer, sent a letter to Hegseth asking what he meant by the words.

“Because that statement of No Quarter coming from a Secretary of Defense is very alarming, because that is against the law of armed conflict, and it’s against the Geneva Convention and other things,” Kelly told The Independent.

Kelly has been in the crosshairs of the administration ever since he appeared in the video. Hegseth attempted to lower his Navy retirement rank and therefore his pension, but a federal judge blocked the efforts. Hegseth has sought to challenge the judicial order.

But Kelly said he had significant concerns.

“I want some clarification from him about whether or not this is just now the new policy of the Department of Defense,” Kelly said. “He doesn’t get to make those kind of decisions. And if it’s. not, what did he mean?”

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