A Dismissed Pentagon General Admitted To Leaking Classified Information About Ukraine And Iran

• 30.10.2026, 13:44

The strategist had been passing information to journalists since June 2025.

Dismissed U.S. Army Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia admitted to passing classified information about the war in Ukraine and the conflict with Iran to two journalists. The leaks continued for about a year. According to an internal investigation, the officer confirmed the violations on video after four failed polygraph tests. This week, he was dismissed by Pentagon chief Pete Hegset, reports Axios.

According to the report, Sylvia had been passing information to journalists since June 2025. Communication took place via the secure Signal app, and one of the meetings took place at the “Silver Diner” restaurant in Arlington after the journalist was denied access to the Pentagon.

During that meeting, the general used notes he had taken while reviewing a classified report to verbally brief the journalist on U.S. military aid to Ukraine. The meetings were not coordinated with the Pentagon’s press office, and the information shared was not cleared for classification.

The report also states that the general refused to recount the content of Signal messages regarding Iran and claimed that he had accidentally deleted the entire correspondence. U.S. officials suspect that he intentionally destroyed evidence of these contacts.

Sylvia also admitted that he was one of 20 military officials who provided information for publications critical of the Pentagon leadership.

The investigation became part of Hegset’s campaign against leaks. In July, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the creation of a joint task force with the Department of Justice to identify employees who pass classified information to journalists.