Pentagon Fires US Navy Secretary Phelan, Sources Confirm
The United States Navy Secretary John Phelan has been fired by the Pentagon, according to sources familiar with the matter. The dismissal marks another significant leadership upheaval within the US military establishment and comes amid a period of intense scrutiny of the Department of Defence under the Trump administration.
Sources confirmed the removal but did not immediately provide an official explanation from the Pentagon. The abrupt firing follows a pattern of high-profile dismissals of senior military and defence officials that has characterised the current administration's approach to the armed forces leadership.
Phelan's removal from one of the most senior civilian positions in the US military hierarchy raises immediate questions about continuity of naval command and procurement strategy at a time when the US Navy faces significant operational pressures across multiple theatres, including the Pacific and the Middle East.
The development is expected to prompt immediate congressional scrutiny and could complicate pending naval policy and budget decisions. No successor has been named at the time of reporting.
Similar Stories
Background and related coverage on this story.
Putin Announces Russia Will Deploy New Sarmat Nuclear Missile in 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Russia will deploy its new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile during the current year, in a statement that carries significant implications for global nuclear deterrence architecture. The Sarmat, designated RS-28, is among the world's most capable nuclear delivery systems and represents Moscow's most advanced strategic weapon in its arsenal.
US War in Iran Has Cost $29 Billion, Pentagon Confirms
The United States Pentagon has confirmed that American military operations in Iran have cost $29 billion to date, providing the first official quantification of the financial burden of the conflict. The disclosure marks a significant moment of institutional transparency and is expected to intensify domestic debate in Washington over the fiscal and strategic sustainability of the war.
Pakistan summons Afghan envoy after 15 officers killed in Bannu suicide attack
Pakistan on Monday issued a formal demarche to Afghanistan and summoned the Afghan Chargé d'Affaires following a devastating suicide attack in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, that killed at least 15 police personnel. The Foreign Office held Kabul accountable for allowing militant networks to operate from Afghan soil, marking one of the sharpest diplomatic rebukes Pakistan has issued to Afghanistan in recent months.
Netanyahu Warns Iran War Not Over, Demands Uranium Removal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Sunday that the war with Iran is far from over, insisting that Iran's enriched uranium must be removed as a non-negotiable condition for any resolution to the ongoing conflict. The statement marks a significant hardening of Israel's public position and signals that diplomatic off-ramps remain narrow despite international pressure for de-escalation.
Drone Strike Hits Ship Near Qatar; South Korean Vessel Also Struck in Hormuz
A ship was struck by a drone off the coast of Qatar, according to that country's defence ministry, while South Korea separately confirmed that an unidentified aircraft hit a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz in what appears to be a coordinated or concurrent escalation of maritime threats in the Persian Gulf region. The back-to-back incidents mark a significant deterioration in maritime security across two of the world's most strategically critical waterways.
Bannu Terror Attack Kills 15 Police Officers, PM Vows Resolute Response
A deadly terrorist attack in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa claimed the lives of 15 police officers, with three others sustaining injuries, in one of the most lethal single-incident strikes against law enforcement personnel in the province in recent months. The attack underscores the deteriorating security situation in parts of KPK where militant groups have intensified operations against state security forces.