Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
World
Chelsie Napiza

Senator Mark Kelly Warns Hegseth's 'No Quarter' Remark Signals Killing Prisoners, Calls It Illegal Under US Law

Pentagon Bans Press Photographers From Briefings After ‘Unflattering’ Images Of Defence Chief Pete Hegseth (Credit: photo: screenshot on X)

US Senator Mark Kelly has formally demanded Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth retract and clarify his public pledge of 'no quarter, no mercy' against Iranian combatants, warning that the phrase carries an unambiguous legal meaning: kill prisoners rather than accept their surrender.

Kelly, a retired US Navy captain and Democrat representing Arizona, sent a formal letter to Hegseth on 16 March 2026, three days after the Defence Secretary made the statement during a Pentagon press briefing on Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing US and Israeli military campaign against Iran.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.