Senior US military leaders have issued a warning to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that prolonging large-scale military operations against Iran is likely to weaken America’s ability to respond to threats, as per a classified assessment cited by The Washington Post.
The assessment, included in the August 14 Secretary of Defense Orders Book, reportedly shows increasing concerns among the higher commanders over the strain caused by the six-month-old conflict.
A report suggested leaders overseeing US operations across Asia, Europe, and Latin America objected to extending deployments, although they stated they would carry out the orders.
Over 50,000 US troops have reportedly remained on alert across the Middle East as President Doanld Trump vows the reopening of the vital waterway, Strait of Hormuz, and accept conditions to mark a permanent end of the months-long conflict.
Several forces have been ordered to remain in the region through September, while others could stay into 2027.
Notably, military officials have raised concerns regarding stretched naval capacity, delayed equipment maintenance, depleted munitions and minimized training opportunities.
A report warned Navy Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle that the service cannot sustain its current level of support due to no clear end date to the conflict.
The warnings come despite US national defense priorities increasingly underscoring the homeland, the Western Hemisphere and competition with China.
Prolonging the Iran war could therefore divert resources from those strategic objectives.
Currently, the US President Trump and his administration retain the authority to decide whether the military risks are justified by broader policy goals. However, the commanders’ warnings highlight the growing costs of maintaining an open-ended conflict.
