WASHINGTON—US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rejected a report by The Washington Post stating that the number of US military personnel killed in the Middle East is higher than publicly acknowledged by the Pentagon.
The official questioned the information published by the newspaper
and cast doubt on the credibility of the sources used to compile the report,
noting that they were primarily officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“They always rely on anonymous sources. The Washington Post
has no credibility, and it hasn’t for a long time,” Hegseth stated in response
to the reports published by the newspaper.
The Defense Secretary also launched a direct attack against
the publication, asserting that its positions are influenced by its opposition
to President Donald Trump.
“They hate the president more than they love the country,”
Hegseth maintained. The Washington Post report highlights a discrepancy between
the figures publicly released by the Department of Defense and information
that, according to officials cited by the newspaper, exists within the records
of the U.S. administration.
So far, Hegseth has maintained his rejection of the reports
that question the official count, while the newspaper stands by its published
information based on its sources.