Pete Hegseth Warned That Extending The War In Iran Is Unsustainable And Could Weaken U.S. Forces Elsewhere: Report

Military leaders have warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that extending the conflict with Iran further threatens to weaken the U.S. military elsewhere in the world, according to a new report.

The warning came in an assessment that included the input of many top U.S. commanders, including four-star commanders overseeing operations in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

The Washington Post detailed that the report, called the Secretary of Defense Orders Book (SDOB), details the availability of U.S. troops and equipment around the world, as well as insights from top military officials. Some claimed that the extended deployment of troops and equipment in Iran, rather than areas they are usually destined to, weakens their ability to perform homeland-defense obligations.

The outlet noted that some leaders responded to an order to keep troops deployed in the Middle East longer with a "non-concur," that is, their disagreement with the order but the commitment to execute it nonetheless. One person familiar with the assessment said the deployment has been "too much for too long."

Sean Parnell, a spokesman for Hegseth, told the outlet that "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."

Another report claims Russia in fact believes Washington has been weakened by the war in Iran, giving the country a chance to escalate attacks against the country's interests in Europe.

Citing classified U.S. intelligence, The Washington Post noted last week that different reports claimed that the U.S. is experiencing severe shortages of equipment and ammunition as a result of its operations against Tehran, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz.

The outlet went on to note that stockpiles of key weapons are almost depleted, including Tomahawk cruise missiles and the short-range Army Tactical Missile System.

One person familiar with the assessment said CIA Director John Ratcliffe's unannounced trip to Russia last week was "less about Putin being in a corner" because the army has not managed to make substantial gains in the war against Ukraine and "more because Russia assesses we are depleted and can't intervene."