US ships, aircraft and other military equipment have been diverted from operations around the world to support the Iran war, restricting missions and disrupting training across Europe, Asia and Latin America.
The strain was outlined in a recent classified assessment prepared for Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to people familiar with the document who spoke to The Washington Post. Commanders warned that maintaining the current level of support risked weakening the US military’s ability to respond to threats elsewhere, including those closer to home.
Assets normally assigned to US European Command, Pacific Command and Southern Command have been redirected to Central Command, which is overseeing the conflict with Iran. The redeployments have reduced the commands’ ability to carry out routine missions and ensure forces remain properly trained.
Senior commanders are understood to have formally recorded their opposition to extending some deployments, while making clear they would comply with the orders. The concerns were reportedly set out in the Secretary of Defence Orders Book, which assesses the availability of American warships, aircraft, personnel and weapons systems.
Some forces sent to the Middle East are expected to remain there through September, with certain deployments extending into 2027. The prospect of prolonging the operation has intensified concerns over readiness, maintenance and the military’s capacity to deal with other crises.
The Navy has faced particular pressure, with ships and crews kept at sea for months to support combat operations and enforce the US blockade of Iranian ports. The assessment warned that continuing demands could jeopardise the fleet’s availability should another conflict emerge.
A Pentagon spokesman said decisions on the scope and duration of deployments were based on the current threat assessment, presidential priorities and advice from senior military commanders. The department declined to discuss the classified orders book or individual risk assessments.
