U.S. military chiefs warn Hegseth that the Iran war is too much for too long

Senior U.S. military leaders warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that prolonging large-scale Iran operations is unsustainable and risks weakening the ability to confront threats elsewhere, including the U.S. homeland.

The warning was detailed by the heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force and four-star commanders overseeing U.S. operations in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

The warnings appear in the Aug. 14 edition of the classified Secretary of Defense Orders Book.

The orders book is typically produced twice a month and outlines worldwide availability of U.S. warships, aircraft, personnel and weapons systems.

People familiar with the assessment described it on condition of anonymity because the document is classified.

President Trump has kept all military options available, including further action, while pressing Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Central Command has kept more than 50,000 troops on alert for months in case of additional attacks.

The Aug. 14 orders book directs some Middle East troops to remain through September and others into 2027.

Leaders of European Command, Pacific Command and Southern Command, and the Navy’s top admiral, registered a non-concur: they disagree with extending their forces but will execute the order.

Ships, aircraft and other equipment were pulled from Europe, Asia and Latin America to support the Iran conflict, limiting those commands’ missions and training.

Army and Air Force leadership concurred with extending deployed forces but said doing so carries significant risk.

Military leadership described the six-month Iran operation as too much for too long.

Iran, aware of the war’s unpopularity in the United States and the toll on the U.S. arsenal, has not accepted Washington’s terms.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said force-commitment decisions follow the current threat assessment, presidential priorities, and advice from the Joint Chiefs chairman and combatant commanders.

The Pentagon said it does not discuss internal operational processes, the orders book, or specific concurrences and risk assessments from the services or combatant commands.

Parnell called the Washington Post reporting fake news and poorly sourced.

A person familiar with the assessment said the outlook is more dire than usual and some generals and admirals were unusually frank in opposing continued transfers of forces.

European Command and Southern Command cautioned that lending ships and surveillance aircraft to Central Command has degraded homeland-defense obligations.

Adm. Samuel Paparo disagreed with the level of Pacific Command support ordered, including a carrier strike group and destroyers.

Adm. Daryl Caudle said the Navy cannot sustain its current level of Iran support because there is no anticipated end date.

The Navy has been asked to supply dozens of vessels for the Iran campaign, including to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports.

Caudle said about one-quarter of the Navy’s destroyer fleet is ready to deploy, a sharp decline from prewar levels.

The assessment says continued Iran demands jeopardize ship maintenance and fleet availability if other conflicts arise.

Caudle said at a Norfolk event that deployment extensions are very challenging for sailors and that he pushes back hard, but the enemy gets a vote.

About 2,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, sent in March, will have their Middle East deployment extended.

The 82nd Airborne troops would be central to any U.S. ground invasion of Iran.

Deployments for Army Patriot air-defense units in the region are expected to be extended.

Depletion of Patriot interceptors from the Iran war and prior transfers to Ukraine has limited the administration’s ability to re-escalate.

The war has also drained U.S. stocks of THAAD interceptors and long-range Tomahawk missiles.

About 25 percent of the Pentagon’s Reaper drone fleet has been lost in the fighting.

U.S. bases in the region have sustained billions of dollars in damage.

The Trump administration says reports of munitions shortages are inaccurate.

Many Air Force units sent for bombing and around-the-clock operations are slated to stay in the Middle East into 2027.

Before hostilities began, Gen. Dan Caine advised the White House that the United States lacked sufficient munitions and allied support for an extended large-scale campaign.

Gen. Alexus Grynkewich warned that he lacked adequate naval forces to shield Israel and the U.S. homeland from missile attacks.

Pacific allies have raised alarm that depleted U.S. missiles and interceptors leave them more vulnerable to China.

The Navy’s dedicated Pacific aircraft carrier was sent to the Middle East to relieve a carrier that has been deployed about 300 days.

Hegseth told Congress last month the conflict had cost $37.5 billion.

The Pentagon has said 18 U.S. service members have been killed in the conflict.

It is not known when the overstretched units will be allowed to return to their original theaters.