Senior US military leaders warn Pete Hegseth over Iran operations

According to a Washington Post report, senior US military leaders warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a classified August 14 document that continuing large-scale operations against Iran risks weakening the military's ability to respond to threats elsewhere, including the US homeland. The assessment, included in the Secretary of Defense Orders Book, incorporates input from the leadership of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as commanders in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Despite these warnings, commanders indicated they would carry out the orders. Currently, US Central Command maintains over 50,000 troops on alert, with some deployments expected to last into 2027. Adm. Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, warned that only about one-quarter of the Navy's destroyer fleet is currently prepared for deployment, noting that continued demands could disrupt maintenance. The report also highlights pressure on US stocks of Patriot and Tomahawk missiles, as well as the loss of approximately one-quarter of the Pentagon's Reaper drone fleet. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that decisions are based on current threats and presidential priorities, declining to discuss internal operational procedures. The Trump administration has previously disputed reports of munitions shortages.