US lawmakers question Hegseth about Iran war, oil prices at public hearing

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was in the hot seat at the House Armed Services congressional hearing, answering under oath for the first time since the Iran conflict began in February questions about the death of American solider and rising oil prices.

Hegseth also faced queries from both Republicans and Democrats over his firing of top military leaders.

Democratic Congressman Pat Ryan of New York criticised Hegseth over the deaths of six American soldiers who were stationed in Kuwait and killed by an Iranian drone and pressed the secretary on whether intelligence showed the location was high on Iran's target list and was indefensible from aerial attack.

The Pentagon chief said the military took proactive measures to protect American forces and the soldiers who died are remembered every day.

Ryan quoted survivors of the attack who told CBS that they weren't prepared to defend against a drone attack. The congressman also accused Hegseth of downplaying what happened and said he should resign.

Hegseth refused to engage on questions about spiked oil prices when questioned by Rep. Maggie Goodlander who argued the defence secretary is ignoring the "impacts of this war on the American taxpayer."