The phrase “no quarter” has come under scrutiny after remarks by Pete Hegseth, the United States Secretary of Defence, who said during a Pentagon briefing that the United States would continue military operations with “no quarter, no mercy for our enemies” while referring to strikes against Iran.
The statement came amid escalating tensions following the reported sinking of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena by a United States Navy submarine on March 4, in which more than 80 sailors were reported killed.
