Ex-NATO general: 'I was worried my former colleagues would become war criminals overnight.'
Quick Insights
The Bottom Line
A former NATO general feared his colleagues would become war criminals by following potentially unlawful orders from President Trump.
AI Summary
Ex-NATO general Michel Yakovleff told FRANCE 24 he feared his former colleagues would become war criminals overnight following threats made by US President Donald Trump. Yakovleff explained that US forces are trained to refuse unlawful orders, such as the wanton destruction of infrastructure, which President Trump had threatened before a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East was announced. He believes the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is pointless. Yakovleff stated he does not anticipate President Trump will return to violence regardless of the outcome of forthcoming peace talks.
Source Coverage Map
24 of 43 tracked sources covered this story
Following this story?
Get notified when new coverage appears
Other Sources Covering This Story
5 sourcesMultiple outlets have reported on this story. Compare perspectives from different sources.

'Unlawful' war on Iran: 'Use of force by the United States never justified'
This article is part of a story we're tracking:
Should this be getting more attention?
You Might Have Missed
Related stories from different sources and perspectives
GlobalNo link between release of French pair held in Iran and Mideast war, France says
Two French nationals arrived home on Wednesday after Iran allowed them to leave the country following three and a half years in detention, a surprise move that came as Paris sought to distance itself from the war in the region. France 24's Kethevane Gorjestani takes a closer look.
Civil RightsMinnesota’s Attorney General Isn’t Backing Down
Earlier this year, parts of Minneapolis resembled a war zone. The Minnesota city had become the violent epicenter of President Donald Trump’s immigration raids as thousands of masked agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol roamed the streets in what was known as Operation Metro Surge. “It felt like a siege,” says […]
CorporateFormer US air force master sergeant pleads guilty to defrauding military out of $37m
<p>Alan Hayward James, who called himself ‘Al Capone’, admitted to rigging bids for IT contracts with Pentagon</p><p>A former US air force master sergeant who nicknamed himself “Al Capone” has pleaded guilty to defrauding the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-military">military</a> branch out of $37m by inflating the cost of IT contracts – and giving some of the extra money to an individual he called “Godfather”.</p><p>Alan Hayward James, from Texas, ran a nine-year scam, beginning in April 2016, which also saw him funnel excess funds to himself, his family and his co-conspirators.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/04/air-force-master-sergeant-pleads-guilty-defrauding-military">Continue reading...</a>
National SecurityLoomer takes credit for arrest of former Iranian commander’s niece in California
Far-right media figure Laura Loomer took credit on Saturday for the arrests of the niece and grand-niece of former Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. strike on Iraq during President Trump’s first term in 2020. Loomer said in a social media post that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Soleimani’s…
EnvironmentWorld held hostage by reliance on fossil fuels, Christiana Figueres warns – and climate health impacts are ‘mother of all injustices’
<p><strong>Exclusive:</strong> Former UN climate chief to co-chair Lancet Commission examining how sea-level rise is reshaping health, wellbeing and inequality</p><p>Countries are being “held hostage” by their reliance on fossil fuels, a former UN climate chief has warned, describing the health impacts of climate change as “the mother of all injustices”.</p><p>Christiana Figueres, an international climate negotiator who helped deliver the Paris agreement signed in 2016, made the comments as she was announced on Wednesday as co-chair of a <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00257-6/fulltext">Lancet Commission examining how sea-level rise is reshaping health, wellbeing and inequality</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2026/apr/08/world-held-hostage-reliance-fossil-fuels-health-christiana-figueres">Continue reading...</a>
Aid groups warn Iran war is hindering food and medicine from reaching millions - AP News
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxQUmVEME1PUElNWU8wZngzc1hxMUtTdEYwb0xGMVBzS215N3RpTGdXRlI2N29PQ2JHZlRWTlhfNkg5ZFF4LWliR0JLRHUwMmlLV0l6XzB5ZHVzSlBFWWpBaHQ1MXMtQkdjWHh6WFV5LVJHbWlIZ1o4RHJGTjRUQkJtQ3lqcGtKTjRaeWhLUl9NWDNncmxvRUE?oc=5" target="_blank">Aid groups warn Iran war is hindering food and medicine from reaching millions</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

Experts say Trump's threats to destroy Iran's infrastructure could be considered war crime - PBS
Did this story change how you see things?
Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.
The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.
See our sourcesMost Read This Week
Protests erupt in West Bank as Israel approves death penalty for Palestinians

Over-the-counter medication abortion? These researchers say it would be safe

US Democratic lawmakers visit Cuba, call on Trump to "bring the rhetoric down" - Reuters

She paid into Medicare for years. Trump's immigration policy will end her coverage

Iran live updates: IRGC says Strait of Hormuz will 'never' revert to pre-war state






