Sen. Mark Kelly demands Pete Hegseth clarify ‘no quarter’ remark, reaffirm commitment to law of war

PHOENIX — Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly demanded clarification Monday from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his public declaration that “no quarter” would be given to U.S. enemies in the ongoing conflict with Iran.

It was the latest development in the dispute between the two over the military’s obligation to refuse unlawful orders.

Kelly addressed the letter to Hegseth as well as copied President Donald Trump and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine on it.

In the letter, the retired Navy captain called the phrase “a well established term in the law of armed conflict,” meaning that enemy combatants cannot surrender but must be killed instead.

Secretary Hegseth needs to explain exactly what he meant when he said “no quarter.” It’s well established that it means to take no prisoners — to kill them instead of accept their surrender. That is illegal under U.S. and international law, would put our servicemembers at greater… pic.twitter.com/xRDBtb7lJX

— Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) March 16, 2026

“Such a declaration is expressly prohibited under international law, including the Geneva and Hague Conventions, and would be a war crime punishable under the War Crimes Act of 1996,” Kelly wrote.

The senator added that the Department of Defense Law of War Manual adopts international law and states that it is forbidden to declare that no quarter will be given.

Hegseth made the remarks during a Pentagon briefing Friday.

“We will keep pressing, keep pushing, keep advancing,” Hegseth said. “No quarter, no mercy for our enemies.”

Kelly’s letter poses three direct questions to the defense secretary:

• Whether his statement reflects current U.S. policy or rules of engagement.
• Whether U.S. operations will comply with international law.
• Whether Hegseth acknowledges service members’ duty to refuse unlawful orders.

The letter marks the latest clash between the two men. Earlier this year, Hegseth formally censured Kelly over a November video in which the senator and other Democratic lawmakers told service members they have a right to refuse illegal orders.

What happened after Hegseth censured Sen. Mark Kelly over the unlawful orders video?

A federal judge last month ruled that Hegseth’s attempts to punish Kelly were unconstitutionally retaliatory, and a Washington grand jury declined to indict the senator.

Kelly referenced that dispute in his letter, writing that the duty to refuse illegal orders “is not only U.S. military law, but it is also a longstanding legal principle on which every service member is trained during their service.”

If Hegseth’s “no quarter” statement does not reflect current policy, Kelly asked that the secretary clarify what he intended when he said it.

“Clear guidance from the Secretary of Defense is essential to the professionalism and discipline of the United States Armed Forces,” Kelly wrote. “Our troops deserve certainty that their leadership gives the utmost respect to the laws that govern armed conflict.”

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