Pentagon chief confirms he was briefed on intelligence about Russian payments to the Taliban - CNN

Mark Milley about their knowledge of intelligence on Russia offering bounties to the Taliban for killing US troops in Afghanistan.

It was clear that both men attempted to carefully navigate questions from lawmakers, but Esper admitted exercising particular caution while addressing inquiries about whether he had been briefed on the matter and when.

Responding to a very narrow line of questioning from Rep.

Still, there appears to be a gap between Esper's assessment of the intelligence and that of other top military commanders.

The top US general overseeing operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan said Tuesday that the intelligence concerning Russian operatives offering bounties to Taliban-linked militants was "very worrisome" but that it wasn't solid enough to hold up in a court of law.

Gen.

That's often true in battlefield intelligence," McKenzie said, according to a transcript provided by the Defense Department.

'We're going to get to the bottom of all that'

Still, Esper and Milley assured members of the committee Thursday that the military is looking into the reports of Russian bounties for killing US troops in Afghanistan.

"We're going to get to the bottom of all that, but I can assure the families that the force protection of our force is -- not only for me, but for every commander all the way down the line -- that's the number one priority for every one of us.

Specifically, Milley said he believes there is not currently a viable military response but suggested the US could take additional strategic action to better address Russia's support for the Taliban.

Lingering concerns

Esper's and Milley's testimony comes as several former national security officials also voiced concerns about the need for a response should claims about Russian bounties be verified.

Celeste Wallander, former special assistant to the President and senior director for Russia/Eurasia at the National Security Council, said Thursday that the Russians offering bounties for US troops is an escalation because "if true, it is an act, a policy of the Russian Ministry of Defense and political leadership, to have American soldiers killed."

"Normally the United States and Russia seek to deconflict in theaters, like in Syria," she noted during the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing.