What Happened
Global Military Capacity Strained Amid Prolonged Middle East Operations
The US Navy’s top officer, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle, expressed concern that the ongoing conflict in Iran is eroding the US military’s readiness globally and its ability to deter near-peer threats. The US has employed significant resources, including hundreds of Tomahawk missiles and other munitions, since operations began on February 28. The aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford is expected to remain at sea for 11 months, and the US is sending a third aircraft carrier to support operations in the Middle East. According to Breaking Defense, the US military has struck over 11,000 targets and destroyed or damaged more than 150 Iranian vessels.