WASHINGTON, — Senior U.S. military leaders have warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that continuing large-scale operations against Iran is putting increasing pressure on U.S. military resources and could weaken America’s ability to respond to potential threats in Europe, the Indo-Pacific and the homeland.
The concerns were detailed in the Aug. 14 Secretary of Defense Orders Book (SDOB), a classified document covering the worldwide availability of U.S. warships, aircraft, personnel and weapons. People familiar with the assessment spoke to The Washington Post on condition of anonymity because the document is classified.
Commanders Object to Extensions
The commanders of U.S. European Command, U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Southern Command, along with the Navy’s top admiral, formally recorded a “non-concur” with orders extending forces for the Iran campaign. The designation means they disagreed with the extensions but would still carry out the orders.
Army and Air Force leaders concurred with the extensions but warned Hegseth that continuing them carries significant strategic risk.
The campaign, which began in late February and has continued for about six months, has required large numbers of ships, aircraft, personnel, air-defense systems and other weapons in the Middle East. More than 50,000 U.S. troops remain on alert in the region. The Aug. 14 orders keep some forces there through September and others into 2027.
Military leaders described the situation as “too much for too long”, citing the lack of a clear end date and the continued transfer of resources from other commands.
Navy Under Pressure
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle told Hegseth that the Navy cannot sustain its current level of support indefinitely. Only about one-quarter of the Navy’s destroyers are currently ready to deploy, according to the assessment.
The Navy has provided dozens of vessels for the campaign, initially for strikes and defense against Iranian counterattacks and later to support a blockade of Iranian ports aimed at pressuring Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Some ship and crew deployments have been extended by months.
The assessment warns that continued operations could affect ship maintenance and reduce fleet availability for other conflicts.
Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, also opposed the continued requirement to provide a carrier strike group and destroyers to the Middle East. The only U.S. aircraft carrier normally based in the Pacific was sent to the region to relieve another carrier that had been deployed for more than 300 days.
Other Forces and Weapons Affected
European Command and Southern Command warned that moving ships and surveillance aircraft to Central Command has reduced their ability to conduct training and meet other missions, including homeland-defense responsibilities.
The 82nd Airborne Division, which sent about 2,000 soldiers to the region in March, is ordered to remain at least through September, with some officials expecting another extension. Patriot air-defense units are also expected to remain longer, while many Air Force units involved in the operation are scheduled to stay into 2027.
The campaign has also drawn on U.S. stocks of Patriot and THAAD interceptors and Tomahawk missiles. Previous reporting cited losses of about 25 percent of the Reaper drone fleet, as well as damage to U.S. bases in the region. The Trump administration has disputed descriptions of U.S. munitions shortages as inaccurate.
Pentagon Response
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said decisions on the scope and duration of U.S. force commitments are based on the current threat assessment, presidential strategic priorities and advice from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and combatant commanders.
The Pentagon does not discuss internal operational processes, including specific concurrences, non-concurrences or risk assessments made during force-allocation decisions. A spokesman for Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine referred questions to Hegseth’s office.
President Donald Trump has continued pressing Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept U.S. terms for ending the conflict while keeping military options available. The commanders’ assessment highlights the strain created by maintaining the current level of U.S. military operations without a clear end date.
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