The U.S. Military has turned on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the mounting war in Iran, according to a new report.
Several U.S. military leaders warned Hegseth this month that prolonging President Donald Trump's war with Iran would put the U.S. homeland at risk — essentially arguing the conflict is unsustainable, sources told the Washington Post.
"Overall, the tenor from the military leadership is that the ongoing Iran operation, having reached the six-month mark, has been 'too much for too long,'" an insider told the Post.
"Certain generals and admirals were more expansive and frank than is usual in telling Hegseth they disagreed with orders to keep providing equipment and personnel when the operation’s trajectory remains uncertain."
The Army, Navy and Air Force and the four-star commanders overseeing U.S. operations abroad delivered these warnings to Hegseth via the Aug. 14 edition of the Secretary of Defense Orders Book, sources told the Post.
Of concern was Trump's efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which have necessitated military action remain a possibility, according to the report. That means U.S. Central Command, the headquarters responsible for prosecuting the war, must keep 50,000 troops on alert for months, the Post reported.
"The Aug. 14 orders book directs some troops deployed in the Middle East to remain there through September and some others into 2027," the report stated. "The prospect of extending those forces further compelled military leaders to voice their concern, these people said."
Meanwhile, U.S. operations in Europe, Asia and Latin America have had lost ships, aircraft and other equipment to the conflict, limiting their ability to conduct missions, the report stated.
The Navy, in particular, said it has had to stretch capacity to keep up with Trump's wartime demands, according to the Post.
The warnings reveal just what a precarious situation Trump has found himself in, the report concludes.
"The military’s warning to Hegseth...offers new insight into the administration’s dilemma as Trump seeks to end the conflict on terms favorable to the United States," the report states.
"Iran, cognizant of the war’s unpopularity with most Americans and its mounting toll on the U.S. arsenal, refuses to capitulate."
