The U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has been accused of “God-washing” the war in Iran.
Leading a Christian worship service at the Pentagon, he prayed for "every round to find its mark" and for “overwhelming violence" against America's enemies.
During the service, which was livestreamed and attended by military personnel, Hegseth also quoted from the Psalms, saying: "I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed."
Speaking to Sky News, U.S. pastor Rev Andy Campbell said the use of Scripture in conversations around the Iran war is troubling: “If you go to war and claim that God is on your side, then if you oppose war, you must be God-less”. He said he believed Mr Hegseth “wants to take people that he perceives as enemies and make them less than human.”
It comes as reports suggest the US Military Religious Freedom Foundation has received more than 200 complaints from members of the military about commanders invoking biblical rhetoric to justify involvement in the war in Iran.
Jared Huffman, chair of the Congressional Freedom Caucus, told Sky News: “Some of the more egregious examples are one from an active duty military member who alleges that their commander urged them to tell our troops that this war is all part of God's divine plan. Apparently, they referenced citations out of the book of Revelation and the imminent return of Jesus Christ.
“These biblical prophecies are being offered up to justify the war. People are being told that they need to risk their lives in order to accelerate Armageddon and live out these extreme interpretations of Scripture. The Secretary of Defence is making a concerted effort to God wash this terrible war.”
The full prayer read by Hegseth was attributed to a military chaplain: "Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy."