US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is extending the deployment of American troops in the Middle East as Washington prepares for the possibility that its military operation against Iran may not end this year, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources familiar with the matter.
According to the report, the United States currently has 19 warships, fighter squadrons, air defense units and amphibious forces deployed in the Middle East. Prolonged deployments are putting increasing pressure on military personnel and complicating equipment maintenance.
The WSJ reported that US President Donald Trump has privately supported the idea of declaring the fighting with Tehran over and pursuing Washington’s objectives through economic pressure on Iran. Despite this, around 50,000 US troops remain in the region.
As the conflict continues, the deployment of some units in the Middle East has been extended to as long as 12 months.
The US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt is also expected to remain deployed in the region until the spring of 2027.
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