Washington, April 4 -- Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has asked General Randy George to step down as chief of staff of the US Army, Pentagon officials said on Thursday. George is the latest senior military officer to be ousted during President Donald Trump's second term. His removal as the top Army officer comes with the United States engaged in a war with Iran that the president has indicated could last for several more weeks. An official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed a report from US broadcaster CBS that said George had been asked to take immediate retirement. The reason for the request was not immediately known, but CBS quoted a source as saying Hegseth wanted someone who would implement his and Trump's vision for the Army. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell later posted a statement on X that said George "will be retiring from his position... effective immediately," without specifying a reason. During a nearly four-decade military career, George deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan multiple times and also served in positions including vice chief of staff of the Army and senior military assistant to Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin during Joe Biden's term as president. The army's vice chief of staff General Christopher LaNeve will take over as acting chief of staff, CBS reported. Hegseth previously said LaNeve is "a battle-tested leader with decades of operational experience."...