Senior U.S. military commanders reportedly warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that extending large-scale operations against Iran is unsustainable and could weaken the military’s ability to respond to threats elsewhere, including within the United States. The warnings were detailed in the Aug. 14 edition of the Secretary of Defense Orders Book, or SDOB (a senior military orders record), according to The Washington Post. The document reportedly directs some Middle East deployments to continue through September and others into 2027, while the heads of European, Pacific and Southern Commands and the Navy’s top admiral filed a non-concur, indicating disagreement with the extensions. The Pentagon condemned the publication of the classified material, while Washington Post reporter Dan Lamothe defended the reporting. The concerns emerged as the U.S. and Iran exchanged fire after almost a month without direct attacks. The six-month conflict has strained the Navy’s budget, reduced stocks of missile interceptors and long-range precision missiles, and diverted ships, personnel, aircraft and equipment from other regions. U.S. forces later struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Lark Island after they were seen preparing to launch rockets with sea mines near the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Central Command, or Centcom (the U.S. military command for the Middle East). Iran responded with missiles aimed at U.S. military sites in Jordan, while the United Arab Emirates said it intercepted an Iranian drone over its territorial waters. The wider political newsletter also highlighted President Trump’s proposed Venezuela oil arrangement, the House’s return from a monthlong recess, Republican concerns about a new midterm convention, restrictive Afghan policies, flooding in the Grand Canyon and near Nepal and Tibet, and NASA’s launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.