‘Loss of confidence’: US Navy fires commanders of warships deployed against Iran

The US Navy has removed several senior officers without the customary public announcements, prompting criticism from lawmakers who say they were not informed. The dismissals have drawn attention to military transparency as tensions with Iran persist and questions remain over the impact of Iranian strikes on US sites in the region.

In October, the commander, deputy commander and senior enlisted sailor of the submarine USS South Dakota were relieved after it reportedly struck something on the seabed. Commander Caitlin Cunningham was removed from command of the USS Michael Murphy on 27 September for a “loss of confidence”; the destroyer had supported operations against Iran. Separately, lawmakers cited reports of damage to 26 US military bases and other sites after Iranian strikes, while the Navy has not publicly explained the removals in detail.