Washington Post: Iran war strains US homeland defense capabilities

The Washington Post, citing informed sources, reported that several senior US military leaders have warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth against prolonging large-scale military operations in the Iran war, stating that continued involvement is "unsustainable" and would weaken the United States' ability to respond to threats elsewhere, including the defense of US territory.

According to the sources, these warnings—delivered to Hegseth by commanders of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as generals overseeing US operations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America—were included in a report dated August 14.

While President Donald Trump continues to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept several US conditions to end the stalemated conflict, he has insisted that all options remain on the table, including further military action.

As a result, US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees operations in the Iran war, has kept more than 50,000 troops on high alert for months in anticipation of possible orders from the president for additional strikes. The Pentagon report includes directives for forces to remain deployed in the Middle East through September, with some units expected to stay in the region until 2027.

The sources noted that commanders of US European Command, Indo-Pacific Command, and Southern Command, as well as the Navy's highest-ranking officer, expressed their opposition to the decision, which the newspaper described as "dissent," according to the sources.

These warnings were presented in the "Secretary of War Orders Log," a bi-monthly report detailing the availability of US warships, aircraft, personnel, and weapons systems worldwide, according to the sources.

The report reflects the president's priorities for force distribution, which the defense secretary implements, and includes assessments from senior generals that inform Pentagon directives.

Military commands responsible for US operations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America have had to reallocate ships, aircraft, and other equipment to support the Iran war. Sources said this "has limited their ability to carry out their missions and ensure proper training for their forces."

Meanwhile, the Army and Air Force commands agreed to Hegseth's request to extend their deployments, but both emphasized the significant risks involved, according to the sources. One source noted that the prevailing view among military leadership is that the ongoing operation in Iran, now in its sixth month, has become "too much, for too long."

A spokesperson for Hegseth told the Washington Post that "decisions regarding the size and duration of force allocations to any combatant command are based on assessments of current threats, the strategic priorities set by President Trump, and the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and combatant commanders."