Hegseth extends US troop deployments in Middle East into 2027: WSJ

• The Wall Street Journal reports that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has extended the deployment of US forces in the Middle East into 2027.
• The move could signal preparations for a prolonged war with Iran, while President Donald Trump has privately discussed declaring the war over.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has extended the deployment of US forces in the Middle East into 2027, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The extension could indicate that Washington is preparing for the possibility that the war with Iran will continue into next year, according to the report.

The newspaper said the open-ended military strategy is intended to give President Donald Trump greater flexibility in his options as the war continues.

The US currently has 19 warships, air defense units, fighter aircraft and airborne forces deployed across the Middle East. The prolonged deployment is placing growing pressure on US service members and their families, according to the report.

People familiar with the deployments said the duration for some US air defense units has been extended from nine months to 12 months, while some units have already been stationed in the Middle East for more than a year.

Despite the extended military deployments, US officials told the Wall Street Journal that Trump has privately discussed with senior advisers the possibility of declaring the war with Iran over and is leaning toward the idea.

Trump has told aides that he believes continued economic pressure could force the Iranian government to dismantle its nuclear program or collapse, according to the officials.

Meanwhile, the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt is preparing for a deployment longer than usual, while Navy officials said the aircraft carrier could be sent to the Middle East.

Sources told the newspaper that Trump received briefings last month on options to intensify airstrikes and deploy ground forces to seize Iranian islands near the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump had also considered striking a fortified site at Mount Falak that could potentially be used for clandestine nuclear activities, according to sources.

The reported preparations come as Washington weighs continued military pressure on Iran while simultaneously considering whether the war can be brought to an end.