The heads of the US armed forces jointly warned US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth against continuing operations in Iran, The Washington Post reported on Sunday.
According to people familiar with the matter, the heads of the army, navy, and air force, along with the commanders who head the US military’s operations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, warned Hegseth that continuing the war in Iran risks weakening their ability to confront threats elsewhere around the world.
The warnings were detailed in the August 14 edition of the Secretary of Defense Orders Book (SDOB), which is classified. The people with knowledge spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The SDOB details the worldwide availability of the US’s military assets, such as warships, aircraft, personnel, and weapons systems. It also reflects the president’s priorities for the armed forces, which the defense secretary and the branches of the military carry out.
US military heads disagree with Hegseth orders to keep troops in Middle East until 2027, still will carry it out
The orders book reportedly stated some US troops deployed in the Middle East to remain there through September, while others would remain in the region until 2027, sources familiar with the matter said.
The Washington Post reported that the navy’s top admiral, along with the leaders from America’s European Command, Pacific Command, and the Southern Command, responded with “non-concur,” which means that they do not agree with Hegseth’s order, but will execute it regardless.
Leaders from the US Army and Air Force both noted that the extension of their forces comes with significant risks.
One person familiar with the matter said that US military leadership believes that the war in Iran has been “too much for too long.”
“Decisions regarding the scope and duration of specific force commitments to any Combatant Command are made based on the current threat assessment, strategic priorities established by the President, and the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Combatant Commanders,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement to the Washington Post.
He added that the Pentagon “does not discuss internal operational processes,” such as the SDOB, “or specific concurrences, non-concurrences, or risk assessments provided by the Services or Combatant Commands during force allocation deliberations.”