US military leaders have delivered an unusually blunt warning to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over Donald Trump’s six-month war with Iran, telling him that prolonging the conflict could put the American homeland at greater risk. Senior commanders reportedly believe the operation has become unsustainable as equipment, personnel and military capacity are stretched. Generals warn the pressure is becoming dangerous Army, Navy and Air Force leaders, alongside four-star commanders overseeing US operations abroad, raised their concerns through the August 14 edition of the Secretary of Defense Orders Book, according to the Washington Post. One insider said the message from military leadership was that the Iran operation had become “too much for too long”. Some generals and admirals were reportedly unusually direct in challenging orders to keep supplying personnel and equipment while the conflict’s eventual outcome remains uncertain. 50,000 troops could face months more on alert Trump’s efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are adding to the pressure. US Central Command must maintain roughly 50,000 troops on alert in the Middle East, with some deployments now extending into September and others potentially running into 2027. That prolonged commitment is creating problems elsewhere. US operations in Europe, Asia and Latin America have reportedly lost ships, aircraft and other equipment to the Iran conflict, reducing the military’s ability to carry out other missions. The Navy is being pushed to its limits The strain is particularly acute for the US Navy, which has been forced to stretch its capacity to meet wartime demands. The longer the operation continues, the harder it becomes to maintain forces in the Middle East without weakening America’s readiness elsewhere. For Trump, that creates a growing strategic dilemma. He wants to force Iran into accepting US terms, but Tehran has shown little willingness to capitulate despite the mounting military and economic pressure. Iran refuses to break — and Washington is running out of room The military warnings expose the increasingly difficult choices facing the administration. Keeping tens of thousands of troops deployed for months longer could increase the risk to US forces and the homeland while consuming equipment needed for other global commitments. Iran, meanwhile, appears to be betting that America’s military strain and the war’s unpopularity will eventually force Washington to reconsider its strategy. US military turns on Pete Hegseth over mounting risk: report
