United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Cain have faced public questioning for the second day, this time in front of the Senate Armed Forces Committee.

The hearing on Thursday came a day after Hegseth and Caine appeared before a House committee, the first time the pair had faced public questioning from lawmakers since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28.

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In at times bellicose language, Hegseth repeatedly decried critics of the war, including lawmakers, accusing them of “fecklessly” aiding US enemies.

On Thursday, he again delivered a defence of the war, which Pentagon officials revealed yesterday had so far cost the US at least $25bn, while giving little clarity…