U.S. military leadership warns on Iran War that dragging it into next year would be risky

[Financial News] The U.S. military leadership, including the Chief of Naval Operations and regional commanders, has said the Iran War, now in its seventh month, cannot be sustained into next year.
The Washington Post (WP) reported on the 30th, local time, citing U.S. military officials. The officials said the Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs, along with the commanders of U.S. European, Pacific and Southern Commands, included concerns about the Iran War in the Secretary of Defense Orders Book dated the 14th.
The SDOB is a classified document that outlines the availability of U.S. warships, aircraft, personnel and weapons systems deployed around the world. It also includes the views of senior military leaders.
The SDOB dated the 14th contained Pete Hegseth's order to keep some of the more than 50,000 troops deployed in the Middle East through September and others through 2027. Admiral Daryl Caudle, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the commanders of U.S. European, Pacific and Southern Commands reportedly took a "non-concur" position on the directive. That means they did not agree with extending the deployment, but would carry out the order for now.
The commanders of U.S. Southern Command and U.S. European Command, which oversee Latin America and Europe, said the transfer of ships and aircraft to U.S. Central Command for the Iran operation has weakened the defense of the contiguous United States. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, said he did not agree with the current operational posture, which continues to send carrier strike groups and Navy destroyers into the Iran operation. There are currently no U.S. aircraft carriers in the West Pacific, as the USS George Washington (CVN-73), previously stationed in Japan, moved to the Middle East this month.
According to officials, Caudle stressed that U.S. support for the Iran War cannot continue at its current level when no end date for the operation is in sight. He said only about one-quarter of the destroyer force is available for deployment.
The Army and Air Force chiefs agreed with Hegseth's plan to extend the troop deployment, but added a service note warning that "significant risk will arise." It was also confirmed that the deployment period for the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, which sent about 2,000 troops to the Iran front in March, has been extended to one year. In a letter to soldiers on the 30th, Division Commander Brandon Tegtmeyer said, "We understand that prolonged deployment places a heavy burden on every family." An official explained, "Military leaders view the Iran operation, which has continued for more than six months, as too long and excessive."
Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's chief spokesperson, said in response to the report, "The Department of Defense does not comment on specific views or assessments submitted by the military services and combatant commands during internal operational procedures or force deployment discussions, including the SDOB." He added, "The size and duration of forces assigned to a specific combatant command are determined based on current threat assessments, the strategic priorities set by the president, and the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and combatant commanders."
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