---
title: "“Operation Has Dragged On”: U.S. Generals Demand Hegseth End the War with Iran in Secret Report"
description: "The classified SDOB report of August 14 records that the commanders of three U.S. commands expressed disagreement with expanding the operation in Iran, warning Hegseth about the depletion of reserves and growing vulnerability vis-à-vis China."
date: 2026-08-30T18:26:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/us-generals-warn-hegseth-to-end-iran-war
tags: [us-military, iran-war, pentagon, hegseth, middle-east, strait-of-hormuz, china-threat, navy]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# “Operation Has Dragged On”: U.S. Generals Demand Hegseth End the War with Iran in Secret Report

![Pete Hegseth at a briefing on the secret US generals' report demanding the halt of the military operation against Iran](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/30/general-ssha-predupredili-gegseta-o-prekrashchenii-voyny-s-iranom/general-ssha-predupredili-gegseta-o-prekrashchenii-voyny-s-iranom-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The classified SDOB report of August 14, 2026, records the formal “disagreement” of the commanders of U.S. European, Pacific, and Southern Commands with the order to expand forces in the Middle East
- The operation in Iran has lasted six months; the U.S. Navy is carrying out the blockade of ports and the protection of the Strait of Hormuz at the limit of its capabilities
- Allies in the Asia-Pacific warn that the transfer of assets from the Pacific leaves them vulnerable to actions by the PRC
- The Pentagon declined to comment on the contents of the report; no official decisions to review the strategy had been made as of August 30, 2026

The top military leadership of the United States has sent Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth an unprecedented warning in tone: the military operation against Iran, ongoing since February 2026, is undermining the combat readiness of the U.S. armed forces and must be halted. This is reported by The Washington Post, citing a classified document, the “Secretary of Defense's Book of Orders” (SDOB), dated August 14, 2026. According to the outlet, the document, which assesses the availability of Pentagon forces and resources worldwide, sees the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, along with four-star commanders of the unified combatant commands, explicitly expressing disagreement with any further expansion of the presence in the Middle East.

### “Disagreement” from Three Commands

The commanders of U.S. European Command, U.S. Pacific Command, and U.S. Southern Command recorded a formal “disagreement” in their sections of the SDOB with the order to redeploy additional ships, aircraft, and intelligence systems to the Middle East theater. As an anonymous source familiar with the document's contents explained to The Washington Post, “the operation in Iran, already six months in, has become too complex and has dragged on.” According to the same source, transferring key assets from regional reserves not only depletes the commands' own stockpiles but also deprives them of the ability to carry out basic tasks of defending U.S. territory and protecting allies.

### Critical Shortfall in the Navy and the Strait of Hormuz

The most acute situation, according to the report, has developed in the Navy. It is the fleet that is carrying out the blockade of Iranian ports and the patrol of trade routes in the Strait of Hormuz — the artery through which about a fifth of the world's oil exports pass. The depletion of arsenals and the continuous rotation of ships have led to the U.S. Navy operating at the limit of its capabilities, with recovery time between operations reduced to a minimum. This, in turn, creates risks to the safety of shipping in the Persian Gulf and increases the likelihood of incidents with Iranian forces.

### Vulnerability in the Pacific and the China Factor

The transfer of carrier strike groups, submarines, and reconnaissance aircraft from the Pacific region to the Middle East has already raised concerns among U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific. According to The Washington Post, several alliance partners have warned Washington that the reduction of the American military presence in the western Pacific leaves them vulnerable to possible actions by the PRC. Thus, the Pentagon's attempt to simultaneously conduct a protracted operation in Iran and maintain a strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific region is, by the commanders' assessment, impossible without a critical decline in readiness in both theaters.

### The Pentagon Stays Silent

Sean Parnell, a spokesperson for the Secretary of Defense, commenting on The Washington Post's publication, stated that the Pentagon “does not comment on internal operational discussions and risk assessments.” Official Washington neither confirmed nor denied the contents of the August 14 SDOB, did not disclose the list of specific redeployments, and did not clarify what decisions Hegseth made after receiving the report. As of the publication date of the article (August 30, 2026), no public statements from the White House or the Pentagon about a review of the operation's strategy in Iran had been made.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [U.S. Generals Warn Hegseth Against a Prolonged War with Iran, - WP](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/generali-ssha-zasterigayut-gegseta-vid-trivaloyi-1788113236.html) - Ретрансляция материала The Washington Post. Подтверждает наличие SDOB от 14 августа, «несогласие» трёх командований, шестимесячную длительность операции, критическое состояние ВМС и реакцию Пентагона.
- [Hegseth told not to extend Iran war](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/hegseth-told-not-extend-iran-164521022.html) - Англоязычная версия того же сюжета WP. Подтверждает ключевые тезисы: предупреждение командующих, истощение резервов, Ормузский пролив.
- [Military leaders warn Hegseth against extending Iran war operations](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/military-leaders-warn-hegseth-against-extending-iran-war-operations/ar-AA2bcXDK) - Ещё один ретранслятор WP-материала. Подтверждает факт внутреннего конфликта между командованиями и Пентагоном по вопросу расширения операции.
- [Hegseth’s Army Purges Have Undermined Military Leadership on Iran](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/hegseth-army-purges-undermined-military-215320232.html) - Англоязычная версия того же сюжета WP. Подтверждает ключевые тезисы: предупреждение командующих, истощение резервов, Ормузский пролив.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What is the SDOB and why is this document important?
**A:** The SDOB (Secretary of Defense's Book of Orders) is a regular classified report in which the commanders of the unified combatant commands assess the availability of forces and resources and may formally express “agreement” or “disagreement” with the Secretary of Defense's orders. The document dated August 14, 2026, became public thanks to a leak to The Washington Post.

### Q: How long has the U.S. military operation in Iran been going on?
**A:** According to The Washington Post, at the time the SDOB was prepared (August 14, 2026), the operation had already been ongoing for six months, meaning it began around February 2026.

### Q: What specific assets are being redeployed to the Middle East?
**A:** The open WP materials list ships, aircraft, and intelligence systems. The situation is most critical in the Navy, which is carrying out the blockade of Iranian ports and the patrol of the Strait of Hormuz. The exact list of equipment is not disclosed in the classified document.

### Q: How did the Pentagon react to the publication?
**A:** Sean Parnell, a spokesperson for the Secretary of Defense, stated that the Pentagon does not comment on internal operational discussions and risk assessments. No official confirmation or denial of the SDOB's contents had been received as of August 30, 2026.

### Q: What risks to allies in the Pacific region are mentioned in the report?
**A:** U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific warned that the transfer of carrier strike groups and reconnaissance assets from the Pacific to the Middle East reduces the American presence in the region and leaves allies vulnerable to possible actions by China.