U.S. Pushes to Extend Deployment of Troops in Middle East—Will War with Iran Continue into Next Year?

[Financial News] The Donald Trump administration is pursuing a plan to extend the deployment of U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East through next year, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 2nd (local time).
According to sources, Pete Hegseth, the U.S. secretary of defense, has begun taking steps to extend the deployment period of troops in the Middle East without making a separate public announcement. The Middle East currently has 19 U.S. warships and 50,000 U.S. troops, including air defense units, fighter squadrons, and airborne forces.
A letter reviewed by WSJ said that senior U.S. military officials had recently notified military families that some personnel from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division could remain in the Middle East through 2027. WSJ interpreted this as a signal that the war with Iran could continue into next year.
The United States initially said it would avoid long-term involvement and seek to end the operation quickly. However, six months after the war began, no agreement to end the conflict has been reached, and the two sides continue to engage in armed clashes over the Strait of Hormuz.
When asked at the White House the previous day how long renewed U.S. strikes on Iran would last, President Trump replied, "We are prepared to launch another attack whenever we want."
The burden of a prolonged deployment is also growing. The deployment period for Army air defense units protecting against Iranian missiles and drones has already been extended from nine to 12 months. Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), noted that a longer deployment could lead to accumulating fatigue among service members and disrupt equipment maintenance and force modernization.
[email protected] Lee Jeong-hwa Reporter