The Washington Post reported that several U.S. military leaders advised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth against extending deployments in the Persian Gulf region. The Navy, U.S. European Command, U.S. Pacific Command, and U.S. Southern Command reportedly opposed extensions, while the Army and Air Force agreed to sustain some units into 2027 but flagged risks to other theaters. The reporting draws from individuals familiar with the mid-August Secretary of Defense Orders Book and notes a statement from Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.