New purges at the Pentagon, FBI raid on Bolton! Arrows point to Trump

It was not immediately clear why Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse, the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), was dismissed. However, Western media allege that Kruse's dismissal stemmed from leaks of initial reports that the June 22 US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities did not significantly damage Tehran's nuclear program.

"The firing of yet another senior national security official exposes the Trump administration's dangerous habit of treating intelligence as a test of loyalty rather than a mechanism to protect our country," said Democratic Senator Mark Warner, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

According to a US official speaking to Western media, in addition to Kruse, the commander of the US Naval Reserves and the head of the Naval Special Warfare Command were also dismissed.

FBI SEARCHES HOME OF TRUMP'S FORMER ADVISOR JOHN BOKTON

The FBI searched the home and office of former National Security Advisor John Bolton as part of a possible investigation into classified documents.

Bolton, who served during Trump's first term and adopted an opposing stance against him after 2019, heavily criticized Trump in a book he published in 2020. At the time, the White House accused Bolton of disclosing classified information.

Trump said he didn't want to comment on the calls, calling Bolton "scum." Vice President J.D. Vance said the investigation involved classified documents.

"DO INCREASING DISMISSALS SIGNAL A WITCH HUNT?"

The recent spate of dismissals is being interpreted in Western media as punishment for current and former military, intelligence, and law enforcement officials seen as opposing the Trump administration. Comments in Western media that the recent developments resemble a "witch hunt" have become widespread.

In April, Trump fired National Security Agency (NSA) Director General Timothy Haugh and purged more than a dozen staff members on the White House National Security Council.

Hegseth also fired Air Force General CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with five other admirals and generals, in February. The Air Force chief also made a surprise announcement this week that he would retire halfway through his term.

Two days before Kruse's dismissal, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced that she had revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former US intelligence officials at Trump's behest.

Source: ANKA