US Generals Warn Trump Administration Against Prolonged Conflict with Iran, Citing Diminished Capabilities
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, a recent confidential assessment has warned that the continuation of extensive operations in the Middle East risks diminishing U.S. capabilities in other regions, according to a report by The Washington Post, citing informed sources.
The Washington Post added that, based on this assessment, several U.S. military leaders have advised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that ongoing extensive operations against Iran are unsustainable and increase the risk of weakening America’s ability to counter other threats, including those targeting U.S. territory.
According to the report, these warnings were presented to Hegseth by commanders of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as four-star commanders overseeing U.S. operations across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
The Washington Post noted that while some U.S. forces are scheduled to remain in the Middle East until September and others until 2027, American generals have expressed concern over the protracted conflict.
Based on the report, commanders from U.S. European Command, U.S. Pacific Command, and U.S. Southern Command, along with the Chief of Naval Operations, have formally stated their disagreement with extending troop presence in the Middle East in Hegseth’s office. This dissent is recorded in a document titled “Disagreement,” signifying their objection to the Secretary’s order to extend troop deployments, though they intend to comply with the directive.
The Washington Post wrote that the U.S. Army and Air Force commands have agreed to Hegseth’s request to extend their troop deployments in the Middle East, but each emphasized that such a move carries significant risks. Overall, military leaders perceive the ongoing operations in Iran, now in their sixth month, as overly burdensome.
According to the report, senior military officials at European Command and Southern Command have each warned Hegseth that diverting their ships and reconnaissance aircraft to Central Command has reduced their capacity to fulfill commitments related to defending U.S. territory.
The Washington Post reported that Admiral Daryl Caudle, Commander of U.S. Naval Operations, presented the most pessimistic outlook to Hegseth, stating in the Defense Secretary’s office that the Navy cannot sustain the current level of support for the war with Iran due to the absence of a defined end date for the conflict.
Based on the report, the U.S. Navy has incurred a substantial burden, being tasked with supplying dozens of vessels for the Iran operations. Initially, these assets were involved in the U.S. offensive and defense against retaliatory Iranian attacks, and subsequently, over recent months, for enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports. The deployment of some ships and their crews has been extended for several months.
The Washington Post wrote that Caudle informed Hegseth that just over a quarter of the Navy’s destroyer fleet is ready for deployment, a significant decrease from pre-war levels.
According to the report, if the demands stemming from U.S. operations against Iran continue unchanged, the impact on ship maintenance will jeopardize fleet readiness in the event of other conflicts.
The Washington Post stated that a reduction in Patriot interceptor missile stockpiles—resulting from the conflict with Iran and previous U.S. aid to Ukraine—has limited the Trump administration’s ability to escalate the conflict further, as Tehran reportedly retains the capability to strike U.S. installations across the Middle East. The war with Iran has also depleted U.S. reserves of Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor missiles and long-range Tomahawk missiles. Approximately 25 percent of the U.S. Reaper drone fleet has been lost, and U.S. bases in the region have sustained billions of dollars in damages.
