India, April 24 -- Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving his job, the Pentagon abruptly announced, the first head of a military service to depart during President Donald Trump's second

term but just the latest top defence leader to step down or be ousted.

No reason was given for the unexpected departure of the Navy's top civilian official, coming as the sea service has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports and is targeting ships linked to Tehran around the world during a tenuous ceasefire in the war. Another Trump loyalist is taking over as acting head of the Navy: Undersecretary Hung Cao, a 25-year Navy combat veteran who ran unsuccessful campaigns for the US Senate and House in Virginia.

Phelan's departure is the latest in a series of ...