Washington Post: Iran war strains US homeland defense capabilities

Senior US military leaders have cautioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that protracted involvement in the Iran war is straining America's capacity to safeguard its own soil. According to the Washington Post, informed sources disclosed that commanders of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, along with generals in charge of US operations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, conveyed their concerns to Hegseth in a report dated August 14.

These warnings, featured in the Secretary of War Orders Log, highlighted that continued engagement in the Iran war is "unsustainable" and would diminish the United States' capacity to counter threats elsewhere, including defending US territory. Despite President Donald Trump persisting in urging Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and comply with several US conditions to end the stalemate, he has maintained that all options, including further military action, remain viable.

Consequently, US Central Command, which manages operations in the Iran war, has maintained over 50,000 troops on high alert for months, awaiting potential presidential orders for additional strikes. The Pentagon report suggests deploying forces in the Middle East through September, with some units anticipated to remain in the region until 2027.

Military commanders from US European Command, Indo-Pacific Command, and Southern Command, along with the Navy's top-ranking officer, voiced their dissent against this decision, labeled as such by the sources. These warnings were documented in the Secretary of War Orders Log, a bi-monthly report outlining the availability of US warships, aircraft, personnel, and weapons systems worldwide, as directed by the president and implemented by the defense secretary.

Military commands overseeing US operations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America had to reassign ships, aircraft, and other equipment to support the Iran war, limiting their ability to fulfill their missions and ensure proper training for their forces. The Army and Air Force commands agreed to Hegseth's request to extend their deployments but emphasized the substantial risks involved.

One source stated that the prevailing opinion among military leadership is that the ongoing operation in Iran, now in its sixth month, has become "too much, for too long." A Pentagon spokesperson noted that decisions on force allocations to combatant commands are based on assessments of current threats, strategic priorities set by President Trump, and advice from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and combatant commanders.