Pete Hegseth Calls For 'No Quarter' For US Enemies
By: Jennifer Bowers Bahney (Mediaite)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's call for "no quarter" for U.S. enemies given during Friday's press briefing on the Iran war drew the attention of critics who pegged the directive as a direct violation of international law.
Hegseth, who is known for his tough talk at Pentagon briefings, gave an update on Iran's "new, so-called not so supreme leader" Mojtaba Khamenei .
"His father — dead. He's scared, he's injured, he's on the run, and he lacks legitimacy. It is a mess for them," Hegseth said.
"Who's in charge? Iran may not even know," Hegseth continued. "With every passing hour, we know — and we know they know — that the military capabilities of their evil regime are crumbling. They can barely communicate, let alone coordinate. They're confused and we know it. Our response? We will keep pressing, we will keep pushing, keep advancing, no quarter, no mercy for our enemies."
The International Committee of the Red Cross defines "no quarter" as "refusing to spare the life of anybody, even of persons manifestly unable to defend themselves or who clearly express their intention to surrender" during war-time hostilities.
According to international humanitarian law, "'Directions to give no quarter' was listed as a war crime in the Report of the Commission on Responsibility set up after the First World War."
The ICRC's International Humanitarian Law Databases goes on to say:
Under the Statute of the International Criminal Court, "declaring that no quarter will be given" is a war crime in international armed conflicts. The prohibition is contained in numerous military manuals. Under the legislation of many States, it is an offence to issue an order that no quarter be given. In several cases after the First and Second World Wars, the accused were charged with violating this rule.
Alex Ward , National security reporter with The Wall Street Journal , wrote on X Friday, "Went largely unnoticed but Hegseth on Iran said the U.S. would provide 'no quarter, no mercy for our enemies' during his press conference today. 'No quarter' is a violation of international humanitarian law."
Went largely unnoticed but Hegseth on Iran said the U.S. would provide "no quarter, no mercy for our enemies" during his press conference today.
"No quarter" is a violation of international humanitarian law. https://t.co/GoYKnWC5Ks
— Alex Ward (@alexbward) March 13, 2026
Legendary CNN Pentagon reporter Barbara Starr called Ward's assertion, "extremely important to note because many of Hegseth's actions and statements now appear to be trying to change the very moral fiber of the US military, at least when it suits him."
This is extremely important to note because many of Hegseth's actions and statements now appear to be trying to change the very moral fiber of the US military, at least when it suits him.
— Barbara Starr (@bstarrreports) March 13, 2026
Watch the clip above via CNN.
New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!
Tags:Alex WardBarbara Starrinternational humanitarian lawIran WarPete Hegseththe pentagonThe Wall Street Journal Previous PostNext Post Previous PostNext Post Load Comments
Tags
Who is online
138 visitors
Trump wants complete and unconditional surrender and Hegseth wants to kill them all.
Isn't that your objective when at war?
"No quarter" appears to be an international war crime.
If the definition pertains to "cutting throats" it would appear he used it as a figure of speech since we have no troops on the ground in Iran.
In addition, where was the leftist "outrage" when Iran gave no mercy to anyone that was within their sites?
They have been going against international law for almost 50 years and not a word from any leftists, except recently from Fetterman, about Iran's atrocities.
Ridiculous and stupid assertion
It's deflection
It is stating fact. Something no one has attempted to debunk
I'm sure Hegseth is aware that " no quarter" has historically meant "take no prisoners", so if he doesn't mean that why did he say it? Does he think he is going to scare the Iranians?
He wants to be the big badass tough guy, and maybe he is, but half the country thinks he is a joke.
I don't think he does. I'm certain he's forgotten all his military customs and courtesy training. Then again, does the Army teach that? We got it drilled into our heads in AF basic
What do the Iranians have to fight with...bad language, Israel and the US fly though their skies unabated. I hope the Iranian people see the opportunity they have and take back their country.
He should be, we want our service people to kill the enemy not try and make friends.
Morning Goosey...
Take back their country?.not going to happen..
To many of the old guard and any uprising will be squashed flat as we have seen..as I have said previously if was millions demonstrating then there would be some hope, but when it's thousands forget it..
Middle Eastern countries have a different mind set to the West and our ideals..at times we have a nasty habit of "we know best" and then wonder why it all turns to crap..
Why because they have different minorities and factions and they all want to in charge..and so the internal fighting begins and drags on for years..then throw in religion and another basket case country emerges...
The list so far I can think of..
Iraq
Afghanistan
Syria
Libya
Lebanon
Yemen
How Christian of him.
He's a fucking war criminal. I really want him and that fat piece of shit at Mar-A-Lada put on trial at the Hague