Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, during a televised press briefing at the Pentagon on the Iran war on March 13, vowed this about America’s response to Iran’s ruling regime: “We will keep pushing, keep advancing. No quarter, no mercy for our enemies”

These words in themselves could be a violation of both U.S. and international law

Hegseth’s declaration of “no quarter” implicates a foundational prohibition under the law of war[…]
Dating back to at least the Civil War, the denial of quarter has been forbidden. As articulated in the 1863 Lieber Code[…]
The law of war prohibits military leaders from the speech act of announcing “no quarter” alone[…]
Denial of quarter is also a war crime under U.S. law. The War Crimes Act criminalizes violations of the following rule: “it is especially forbidden… [t]o declare that no quarter will be given”[…]
Once a television personality, Hegseth may have intended his bellicose rhetoric as a made-for-TV flourish. But his job description is different now. Despite his civilian attire, the Secretary of Defense is a military leader in the chain of command. Whether he appreciates it or not, his words alone have legal significance