UPDATE, 9:57p ET: The Marine Corps has clarified what Marines did under State Department orders in Yemen following the evacuation of the U.S. embassy.
Crew served weapons were destroyed at the embassy, while Marines’ personal weapons were “rendered inoperable” at the airport, and their destroyed components were left behind.
The Marine Corps does not dispute the reporting that CENTCOM is outraged over weapons being rendered inoperable.
Read the original story below:
A senior defense official told Fox News that Marines were directed to turn over their weapons after leaving the U.S. embassy in Yemen.
Veteran and Fox News contributor Pete Hegseth was on “The Kelly File” to sound off on the order, which reportedly came from the U.S. State Department.
“So, we’re surrendering around the world, we’re surrendering our embassy, and now we’re asking U.S. Marines to surrender their dignity, give up oaths that they made, creeds that they live by, and surrender their rifle,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth wondered who thought it was right to have Marines hand over their weapons to Yemeni officials before evacuating the country.
“Someone botched the plan,” he said.
Hegseth said this is about the signals and optics presented to the world.
