Warning to Hegseth and danger to the US: "The campaign in Iran has lasted too long"

Senior American military officials warned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth that the continuation of large-scale military activity against Iran is unsustainable and could weaken the United States' ability to deal with threats in other theaters, including on its own soil, the American newspaper "The Washington Post" reported today (Sunday), citing sources familiar with the matter. The warnings appear in an assessment prepared for the Secretary of Defense and included in the August 14 edition of the Secretary of Defense Orders Book (SDOB), according to those familiar with the document.

Hegseth was briefed by the heads of the American Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as by commanders responsible for American operations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

The Secretary of Defense Orders Book is typically produced twice a month and outlines the global availability of American warships, aircraft, personnel, and weapons systems. It reflects the President's priorities for the armed forces and includes the positions of senior military officials, which serve as the basis for directives issued by the Pentagon.

US President Donald Trump has pressured Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept several American conditions to end the stalemate. At the same time, Trump emphasized that all options remain on the table, including further military action. As a result, US Central Command, responsible for managing the war in Iran, has for many months maintained a force of more than 50,000 troops on alert, in case the President orders additional strikes.

The August 14 orders book instructs some of the troops stationed in the Middle East to remain in the region until September, and the service of other troops has been extended into 2027. The possibility of extending the deployment of forces even further led senior military officials to voice their warnings. "The campaign in Iran, six months later, is too much and for too long," said a source familiar with the assessment.

According to him, commanders are accustomed to discussing risks, but this time the situation is "more severe." Some generals and admirals were more direct and open than usual when telling Hegseth that they oppose the continued transfer of equipment and personnel while the future of the operation remains unclear.

Senior commanders at European Command and Southern Command warned Hegseth that transferring ships and intelligence aircraft to Central Command harms their ability to fulfill their missions related to the defense of the US.

The US Navy bears a particularly heavy burden. It is required to provide dozens of vessels for the campaign in Iran — initially to participate in the American attack and defend against Iranian counter-attacks, and subsequently for months to enforce Trump's blockade of Iranian ports, as part of his attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The Chief of Naval Operations, according to sources familiar with the assessment, told Hegseth that barely a quarter of the American destroyer fleet is fit for deployment, a sharp decline compared to pre-war levels. The document further warns that if the demands posed by the campaign in Iran continue in the same format, the impact on ship maintenance will jeopardize fleet availability in the event of additional conflicts.

US ground forces are also expected to continue their stay in the Middle East. The US Army's 82nd Airborne Division, which mobilized 2,000 troops in March following the war in Iran, will remain in the region at least until September. According to sources familiar with the assessment, some in the military anticipate that the division's stay will be extended beyond that. The division could be a key component of any ground invasion of Iran.

The deployment of units operating Patriot air defense systems is also expected to be extended. These systems are used to intercept missiles and drones aimed at American bases.