Retired U.S.Army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling criticized President Donald Trump for his rhetoric regarding the Iran conflict, drawing parallels to Russian President Vladimir Putin's description of the Ukraine invasion as a 'special military operation.

' During a press availability preceding NATO talks in Turkey, Trump downplayed the Iran situation, calling it 'not even a war, just a military operation.

' Hertling argued that this framing mirrors Putin's narrative and is misleading, emphasizing that the conflict meets all historical definitions of war.

He highlighted ongoing attacks by Iranian drones on ships as evidence of the war's reality, accusing Trump of disseminating incomplete information to downplay the situation.

The article underscores concerns about political leaders using euphemistic language to obscure the gravity of military conflicts, raising questions about accountability and transparency in public communication.