A former NATO general tells FRANCE 24 he feared his former colleagues would become war criminals overnight. Michel Yakovleff says US forces are trained to refuse unlawful orders, such as wanton destruction of infrastructure, which is exactly what US President Donald Trump threatened before the two-week ceasefire was announced. He says the war in the Middle East is pointless, and that he does not see Trump returning to violence no matter the outcome of the forthcoming peace talks. We talked to him in Perspective.
Back to Home
world
Ex-NATO general: 'I was worried my former colleagues would become war criminals overnight.'
France 24
April 08, 2026
13:25 GMT
A former NATO general tells FRANCE 24 he feared his former colleagues would become war criminals overnight. Michel Yakovleff says US forces are trained to refuse unlawful orders, such as wanton destruction of infrastructure, which is exactly what US President Donald Trump threatened before the two-week ceasefire was announced. He says the war in the Middle East is pointless, and that he does not see Trump returning to violence no matter the outcome of the forthcoming peace talks. We talked to him in Perspective.
Related Stories
world
Pastor charged over drowning of man at baptism ceremony in Birmingham
Cheryl Bartley is charged with gross negligence manslaughter after 2023 death of Robert Smith, 61 A pastor has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter after the drowning of a 61-year-old man at a baptism ceremony in Birmingham in 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service said. Robert Smith, from Brixton in south London, died at an address in Erdington on 8 October 2023. Malcolm McHaffie, the head of the special crime division, said: “We have decided to prosecute Cheryl Bartley, 48, with one count of gross negligence manslaughter in relation to her role as a pastor during a baptism. Continue reading...
The Guardian World•Apr 08, 2026
world
Congress must take up war powers resolution to curb action on Iran, says top House Democrat – US politics live
‘We need a permanent end to Donald Trump’s reckless war of choice,’ says Hakeem Jeffries as he calls for immediate vote Sign up for the Breaking News US email Pete Hegseth repeated Donald Trump’s social media comments that Iran will cease uranium enrichment – a condition that Tehran has previously refused to budge on. “Any material they should not have, will be removed right now,” Hegseth said. “The president has been clear from the beginning, there will be no Iranian nuclear weapons.” Continue reading...
The Guardian World•Apr 08, 2026
world
Trump’s EPA chief Zeldin gives keynote speech at climate-denying group’s event
Lee Zeldin opens conference for Heartland Institute, which once compared climate advocates to the Unabomber Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), gave the keynote speech at a conference on Wednesday morning, one which was hosted by a prominent climate-denying thinktank that previously compared those concerned about the climate crisis to the Unabomber on billboard posters in 2012. “No longer are we going to rely on bad, flawed assumptions instead of accurate, present-day facts, without apology or regret,” Zeldin said at the Heartland Institute’s conference on climate change in Washington DC, referring to well-established climate science. Continue reading...
The Guardian World•Apr 08, 2026
world
Middle East crisis live: Trump says Lebanon is ‘separate skirmish’ to Iran as Israel launches massive strikes on country
Lebanese PM says Israel is killing unarmed civilians as US president says country is not included in provisional ceasefire Israel hits Lebanon with massive strikes amid ceasefire uncertainty Hegseth claims Iran ‘begged’ for ceasefire A genocidal threat, and then the US president, Donald Trump, blinked – without any apparently meaningful concessions from Iran. As in so much concerning the second Trump administration, the two week ceasefire “deal” that will see the strait of Hormuz reopened – if it can be described as such – is maddeningly vague and short on detail, apparently kicking the can on key issues down the road. Iran’s nuclear issue, Trump said, would be solved “perfectly.” “It was a big day for world peace”, Trump posted on Truth Social. “Iran can start reconstruction” he added. “Big money” could be made. Yada. Yada. Yada. Continue reading...
The Guardian World•Apr 08, 2026