Senior U.S. Military Leaders Flag Risks of Ongoing Iran Operations in Classified Defense Assessment
A classified Pentagon report shows several combatant commanders have formally expressed concerns about the strain that continued operations against Iran place on U.S. forces, warning of potential impacts on other global commitments.
The Washington Post reported that senior U.S. military commanders have formally recorded non-concurrence with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to maintain current force levels in the Iran conflict. The objections, documented in the highly classified Secretary of Defense Orders Book, were submitted by the heads of European Command, Pacific Command, Southern Command and the chief of naval operations. Army and Air Force leaders concurred with the deployments but also noted significant risks.
The Orders Book, compiled by the Joint Chiefs of Staff staff, evaluates how U.S. forces are allocated worldwide, covering combat units as well as support elements such as intelligence platforms, engineering, medical and logistics services. It is intended to highlight trade-offs and potential vulnerabilities before decisions are finalized.
According to the report, the Iran war has heavily used missile-defense interceptors, including Patriot and THAAD systems, which are limited in number. Naval forces have also experienced extended deployments, affecting maintenance cycles, training and crew readiness. The non-concurrence does not constitute refusal to follow orders; rather, it signals that commanders believe the deployments increase risk in their areas of responsibility and recommend against further extensions.
Officials familiar with the process said the Book’s purpose is to expose such risks so the secretary of defense can address them before they become operational shortfalls. Leaks of the document could reveal detailed assessments of U.S. readiness to adversaries.