Top US military commanders, including the heads of the Navy and Air Force as well as the commanders of Indo-Pacific, Southern, and Northern Commands, told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that continuing the war in Iran is unsustainable and undermines readiness for other missions, including defense of the US homeland, according to a Washington Post report. The commanders of European, Pacific, and Southern Commands, together with the Navy chief, formally 'non-concurred' with Hegseth's desire to extend their missions in Iran, meaning they oppose the order but will carry it out. The opposition was based on prolonged deployment without a foreseeable end date.
A new Washington Post report published Sunday evening reveals that top US military commanders have formally registered "non-concurrence" with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's directive to extend their missions in Iran. The Post reports that the commanders of European, Pacific, and Southern Commands, together with the Navy chief, expressed official opposition to the open-ended deployment while indicating they would still carry out the order. The commanders of the Navy, Air Force, and the Indo-Pacific, Southern, and Northern Commands separately told Hegseth that continuing the war is unsustainable and undermines readiness for other missions, including defense of the US homeland.
The development follows The Washington Post's initial report earlier Sunday (16:19 Jerusalem), which disclosed broad concerns among military leaders about overstretching forces. That first account cited the Navy warning that only a quarter of its warships were ready for action. The Zioneer published its own report on that initial story at 20:12 Jerusalem. The latest Post story names the specific commanders and details their formal dissent, underscoring a deepening rift between the Pentagon's civilian leadership and senior uniformed officers.
The disclosure comes amid a broader picture of strain on US military resources. As The Zioneer reported on August 1 (15:57 Jerusalem), the commander of US European Command warned the Pentagon that his naval forces were insufficient to sustain the defense of Israel against ballistic missile threats, and that without an additional destroyer he would be forced to prioritize the US homeland over regional commitments. The Pentagon and the Israeli embassy in Washington have not commented on the latest report.
2 developments
- DevelopingUS Defense Secretary Hegseth warns Iran against challenging America
- DevelopingHegseth says US will keep large forces in region, reinstate Iran siege if commitments unmet
- DevelopingHegseth: 'Iran made a miserable decision. Now they are paying.'
- DevelopingHegseth: Iran still has capabilities, but damage worst ever — Arabic Desk
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