Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is quietly extending troop deployments in the Mideast, signaling the conflict with Iran could drag into next year, the Wall Street Journal reported. When the US launched its campaign against Iran six months ago, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth promised a quick, decisive blow that would avoid a long entanglement. Now, he is quietly extending troop deployments in a sign that the conflict could drag well into next year, according to people familiar with the matter.

It is part of an open-ended military strategy designed to give President Donald Trump options in the war, the people said. But the deployment of 19 warships, air-defense units, fighter squadrons and paratroopers across the region is straining servicemembers and their families and creating a maintenance backlog that could take years to unwind, the people said.

The Pentagon's all-in approach comes as Trump has sent mixed signals on what might happen next. Trump has embraced an economic pressure campaign in recent weeks in the hopes of forcing Iran to the negotiating table. Tehran has shown no sign of backing down, however, and the US and Iran continue to exchange fire as both nations assert control over the Strait of Hormuz.

As the conflict drags on, the Pentagon's deployment schedules are growing longer too, according to the people familiar with the matter. Warship crews, air defense units and paratroopers are among the forces being ordered to stay in the region longer than expected, with the US currently maintaining 19 warships and 50,000 troops in the waters of the Middle East.