Pete Hegseth removes General Brett Sylvia, responsible for strategic planning, from the Pentagon

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, who oversaw planning and strategy at the U.S. military’s Joint Staff.

The removal comes as President Donald Trump is considering whether to resume attacks on Iran. The U.S. military is reportedly preparing various military options, while allies and countries in the region have been asked to be ready for a possible escalation.

U.S. media report that the decision was announced without publicly explaining the reasons. It has also not yet been announced who will take over Sylvia’s important post.

A Joint Staff spokesperson said the institution’s leaders value Sylvia’s 32 years of service in the U.S. military and wished him and his family well in the future.

The J5 Directorate is responsible for developing military plans and strategic advice for the military’s senior leadership and the U.S. president. Its importance makes Sylvia’s removal particularly notable at a time when tensions with Iran continue.

Trump is considering the possibility of new attacks on Iran after months of conflict between the two countries. However, the U.S. administration has not yet made a final decision on a new offensive; the situation remains tense, and military escalation is still a possibility.

Sylvia is among the senior military officials who have lost their positions while Hegseth has led the Pentagon. Before being appointed to the Joint Staff, he had served as commander of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division.

The successive dismissals have drawn criticism from some U.S. lawmakers. They have raised concerns that frequent changes at the highest levels of command could undermine experience and institutional continuity in the military.