The U.S. military leadership has warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that a prolonged conflict in Iran could weaken the military's ability to respond to other regional conflicts, according to a report by the Washington Post on August 30, citing sources. As the Iran conflict enters its sixth month, key military assets, including ships, aircraft, troops, and missiles, are concentrated in the Middle East, causing disruptions in operations and training in Europe and Asia.
According to the report, military leaders from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, along with the European, Pacific, and Southern commands, conveyed risks associated with the prolonged Iran conflict in a Defense Secretary's Order Book (SDOB) dated August 14. The SDOB reportedly includes directives to maintain U.S. troop levels in the Middle East through September, with some forces expected to remain into next year. Typically published twice a month, the SDOB assesses the availability of U.S. naval vessels, aircraft, troops, and weapon systems worldwide and outlines the Department of Defense's operational direction, incorporating feedback from military leaders.
Notably, some regional commanders have expressed 'non-concur' opinions regarding the continued deployment of forces in the Middle East. This indicates their disagreement with the operation while acknowledging the necessity of supporting the Iran conflict, which has hindered the ability of U.S. forces in Europe, Asia, and Latin America to fulfill their original missions and training.
The Navy is particularly concerned, as the lack of a clear end to the conflict has extended the deployment periods for ships and crew members involved in both the initial attacks and subsequent blockade of Iranian ports. Admiral Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, has reportedly assessed that the number of immediately deployable naval vessels has dropped to about one-quarter of pre-war levels.
One source noted that while it is common for military leaders to mention operational risks, the outlook for the Iran conflict has become 'more grim.' Recently, some senior officers have been more candid and open in discussing the risks associated with the prolonged conflict with Secretary Hegseth.
The Iran conflict is also straining U.S. missile and air defense capabilities. The overlap of the conflict with support for Ukraine has further diminished the availability of Patriot interceptors, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors, and Tomahawk cruise missiles, significantly weakening the U.S. military's operational and support capabilities.
This has also created a larger defensive gap in other regions. The European and Southern commands have warned that their ability to perform homeland defense missions has been compromised due to the support of naval vessels and surveillance aircraft for the Iran conflict. The Pacific Command has also expressed concerns about the ongoing support for aircraft carrier strike groups and destroyers. The relocation of key aircraft carriers from the Pacific to the Middle East has increased the burden on U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific, which are tasked with countering China.
The Washington Post analyzed that this assessment reflects the burdens faced by the Trump administration in its efforts to end the war with Iran. Meanwhile, on the same day, U.S. forces struck two rocket launchers belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stationed on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran attacked a U.S. military base in Jordan, marking a resurgence of military clashes between the two nations after a month.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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