A prolonged and extensive military engagement against Iran could significantly undermine the United States’ ability to respond to crises in other parts of the world and fulfill its defense responsibilities. That is the warning senior US military officials have given Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
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According to The Washington Post, the concerns were included in a classified Pentagon assessment concerning the global deployment and readiness levels of US forces.
The issue was raised in August through a document known as the “Secretary of Defense Orders Book.” The document outlines the deployment and availability of US military capabilities around the world and also contains assessments prepared by senior Defense Department officials.
Military leaders’ concerns deepened after the document projected that some US troops would remain in the Middle East through 2027.
The commanders of several major commands, including those responsible for the Pacific, Europe and South America, formally submitted a “non-concur” indicator. Through it, they expressed opposition to keeping forces in the region for such an extended period.
However, this does not mean the commanders refused to carry out the orders. The US military has said the orders will be followed despite the concerns raised.
Meanwhile, commanders in Europe, Asia and Latin America have seen fighter jets, ships and other key capabilities transferred to the Middle East in support of operations against Iran.
The Washington Post reported that these moves have affected military operations in other regions, as well as training programs and the readiness of US forces.
One source cited by the newspaper described the mood within the military as a sense that the United States is facing “too many difficulties, for far too long.”
Commanders responsible for Europe and Latin America are among those who have expressed the greatest concern.
According to the report, they warned that sending ships and aircraft to the Middle East “has degraded their ability to meet homeland defense obligations.”
The head of US naval operations is also said to have made a similar observation. He said that only about one-quarter of the US destroyer fleet is currently ready for deployment, a figure significantly lower than the level recorded before the war began.
According to his statement, if the conflict continues at the same pace, the fleet’s ability to respond effectively to another military crisis could be jeopardized.
For its part, the Pentagon has categorically denied the claims published by The Washington Post.
“This fake news story, based on insufficient sourcing, is riddled with inaccuracies,” Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell said.
Parnell said Hegseth maintains continuous coordination with the leaders of the Armed Forces’ branches, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commanders of military organizations. According to him, the aim is to ensure that US forces are properly deployed to deter conflict, counter threats and maintain acceptable levels of readiness.
He added that decisions on the size and duration of deployments are based on threat assessments, strategic priorities set by the president and advice from military leaders.
At the same time, Parnell stressed that the Defense Department does not make its internal operational procedures public.
