Senior US military commanders have cautioned Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth against further expanding American military operations targeting Iran, warning that a prolonged campaign could strain the country’s armed forces and reduce their ability to respond to threats elsewhere.
The Washington Post reported that the concerns were contained in a classified assessment included in the August 14 edition of the Secretary of Defence’s Orders Book (SDOB).
The warnings were reportedly issued by senior leaders of the US Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as four-star commanders overseeing American military operations in Europe, the Indo-Pacific and Latin America.
The SDOB, which is normally released twice a month, provides an overview of the US military’s global readiness, including the availability of personnel, aircraft, ships and weapons systems.
It also reflects the priorities of the US president as implemented by the defence secretary, alongside assessments from senior military commanders. The information is subsequently used by the Pentagon when developing military directives.
According to the report, some American forces deployed to the Middle East are expected to remain there until the end of September, while other units are scheduled to stay in the region into 2027.
Sources familiar with the assessment reportedly said the prospect of extending those deployments further has raised concerns among senior commanders.
The chiefs of the US European Command, Indo-Pacific Command and Southern Command, along with the Chief of Naval Operations, are said to oppose plans that would lead to a further expansion or prolonged deployment.
To support American operations around Iran, the US military has already moved ships, aircraft and other equipment from different theatres into the Middle East.
Military officials reportedly warned that the redeployments are beginning to affect the United States’ ability to conduct operations in other parts of the world while maintaining required levels of combat readiness.
The concerns come as the Pentagon weighs possible changes to the US military’s global posture.
The department is reportedly preparing at least four options for reducing the American military presence in Europe, although European officials remain doubtful about the review.
Some European officials have suggested that Washington may have already reached a decision to scale back its military presence on the continent.
The latest warnings highlight the growing tension between maintaining a strong US military presence around Iran and preserving the readiness of American forces in other strategic regions.
