The Washington Post reported Sunday that several high-level military leaders warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that extending operations against Iran could weaken American defense capabilities in other theaters.
Per the report, the Navy’s top admiral and the heads of U.S. European Command, the U.S. Pacific Command, and the U.S. Southern Command disagreed with extending deployments in the Persian Gulf region. The report cited individuals familiar with the mid-August Secretary of Defense Orders Book (SDOB), which details the disposition of American military assets and personnel, articulates the administration’s priorities for the military, and delivers commentary from military leadership.
The Army and Air Force agreed with extending the deployments, for some groups into 2027, but noted risks to other theaters from the diversion of assets.
The report follows a string of stories about the depletion of American weapons stockpiles, particularly missile interceptors and long-range precision missiles. Extended deployments have particularly affected quality of life on naval vessels.