The Pentagon is deploying additional combat aircraft to the Middle East and preparing for a possible expansion of operations against Iran. US military personnel and officials, however, doubt that the United States has sufficient resources for a major escalation, The Washington Post reports, citing administration sources.
One official told the newspaper that the country’s operational capabilities continue to erode. Stocks of air-defense systems and long-range munitions are being depleted, some military equipment has been damaged and deploying additional forces to the region presents significant difficulties.
“We do not have enough resources to continue the operation safely, and I do not think the White House understands that,” he said.
Additional risks emerged after US strikes on bridges and railway infrastructure near Bandar Abbas last week. According to the publication, Tehran viewed the attacks as a new stage of escalation. Iran’s leadership subsequently became less restrained in considering attacks that could cause casualties among US service members, the newspaper’s source said.
Military experts interviewed by The Washington Post also believe the United States is unprepared for a possible ground operation. American units remain vulnerable to Iranian missiles and drones, while accumulated weapons stocks have already been substantially depleted.
US military personnel who served at bases in the Middle East also point to inadequate protection for troops. Many housing facilities consist of containerized or metal structures that offer virtually no protection against missile and drone strikes.
Even fortified barracks are not designed to withstand a direct hit from a ballistic missile, according to the publication’s sources. Infrastructure at several US bases has already sustained serious damage.
“We are getting hammered on every front,” one service member concluded.
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