Military leaders warn Hegseth against extending Iran war operations

Military leaders warn Hegseth against extending Iran war operations - The Washington Post

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Military leaders warn Hegseth against extending Iran war operations

A recent classified assessment advised that prolonged large-scale operations in the Middle East risk weakening U.S. capabilities elsewhere.

August 30, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. EDT

Today at 6:00 a.m. EDT

11 min

*Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attends a ceremony at the Pentagon on Wednesday. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)*

By

Alex Horton

and

Tara Copp

Several U.S. military leaders have advised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that prolonging large-scale operations against Iran is unsustainable and risks weakening their ability to confront threats elsewhere, including the U.S. homeland, according to people familiar with a recent assessment prepared for the Pentagon chief.

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What readers are saying

The comments express strong criticism of the current administration, particularly focusing on Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump. Commenters describe Hegseth as unqualified and incompetent, with some suggesting he is a threat to national security. There is a general sentiment that the... Show more

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