U.S. Army Chief ​of Staff Randy George was fired on Thursday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, three U.S. defense officials told Reuters, in ‌the latest purge among the Pentagon’s most senior ranks, Reuters reported.

Even as Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has moved quickly to reshape the department, firing a general during wartime is nearly without precedent.

The Pentagon confirmed that George, who had more than a year left in his term, “will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief ​of Staff of the Army effective immediately.”

The Pentagon said in a statement it was grateful for George’s decades of service. “We wish ​him well in his retirement,” it said.

Two of the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Hegseth has ⁠also fired General David Hodne, who leads the Army’s Transformation and Training Command, and Major General William Green, head of the Army’s Chaplain ​Corps.

The department did not give a reason for George’s departure, which comes as the U.S. military builds up its forces in the Middle East ​while carrying out operations against Iran.

The U.S. strikes in the region are largely being carried out by the Navy and Air Force, although U.S. Army soldiers have been dispatched to the Middle East for air defense systems. The Army is the largest branch of the U.S. military, with about 450,000 active-duty soldiers.

Thousands of soldiers from the U.S. Army’s ​elite 82nd Airborne Division have also started arriving in the Middle East, potentially for ground operations in Iran.

There had been no ​public signs of friction between Hegseth and George, even as Hegseth pursued controversial moves such as firing the Army’s top lawyer and arranging a massive military parade ‌to celebrate ⁠the Army’s 250th birthday, which coincided with Trump’s birthday, read the report.

Earlier this week, Hegseth also reversed an Army decision to investigate Army pilots who were flying attack helicopters near singer Kid Rock’s house, in an apparent show of support for the vocal Trump backer.

CBS News, which first reported the dismissal, said it was not related to the Kid Rock incident.

One of the officials said Hegseth’s former military aide and Army vice chief of staff, General Christopher ​LaNeve, will take over George’s role ​in an acting capacity.

Another of ⁠the officials added that senior Army leadership learned about George’s firing at the same time as it was made public.

George, an infantry officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was confirmed to the top Army post in ​2023. Terms in that role usually run for four years.

Prior to holding the top job, George was ​the vice chief of ⁠the Army and, before that, the senior military adviser to then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

He was considered close to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. The two worked together to take on large defense companies, in the Army’s drive to speed up weapons development and drive down costs.

George’s removal adds to recent upheaval at ⁠all levels ​of leadership at the Pentagon, including the firing last year of the previous chairman of ​the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, as well as the chief of naval operations and Air Force vice chief of staff.

The office for George did ​not immediately respond to a request for comment.

At least two children have been killed and nearly 30 civilians injured following continued shelling and drone strikes by Pakistani forces in eastern Afghanistan, officials said.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, said the attacks began Wednesday, targeting residential areas across Kunar, Paktika and Khost provinces.

“Since yesterday, Pakistani forces have carried out continuous mortar, rocket and drone attacks,” Fitrat said, adding that most of the casualties were civilians, including children.

In Kunar province, more than 150 mortar and long-range artillery shells struck Sarkano and Manogai districts, injuring two children and damaging property. In the Dosaraki area of Sarkano’s Nawapas region, eight children were wounded and two others killed in shelling.

Additional bombardment continued Thursday, with around 185 artillery rounds hitting Sarkano district and wounding at least 10 more civilians, Fitrat said. A further 178 shells reportedly landed in Manogai, Dangam, Nari and Shultan districts, though no casualties were immediately confirmed.

In Paktika province, a drone strike in Shkin district injured three civilians, while in neighboring Khost, two civilians were wounded in a separate drone strike in Zazi Maidan district.

Afghan officials condemned the attacks, saying civilian areas were deliberately targeted, causing significant harm to local communities.

The escalation comes as diplomatic efforts are underway. According to officials, talks between Afghan and Pakistani representatives began Thursday in Urumqi, China.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Afghan delegation traveled to China at Beijing’s initiative to hold discussions with Pakistani counterparts.

Kuwait Petroleum ​Corporation said ‌its Mina ​al-Ahmadi ​refinery was hit ⁠by ​drones ​early on Friday, setting ​off ​fires at operating ‌units, ⁠according to the ​state ​news ⁠agency, but ​no ​injuries ⁠were reported.

The Kuwaiti army earlier said air defenses were currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation in a statement said they are monitoring and tracking air quality in the areas surrounding the refinery, and no negative environmental impacts have been recorded so far as a result of the attack.

Emergency and firefighting teams are working to contain the fires and prevent their spread, the company said. No injuries were reported in the attack.