US Senators Demand Hearing on Troops’ Strain in Iran War

A group of US senators has called for a congressional hearing over the pressure placed on American service members by the war on Iran, citing serious logistical problems and extended deployments at military bases and naval vessels across the region.

The 12 senators, all members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, asked committee Chairman Roger Wicker to hold a public hearing with senior Pentagon officials. They raised concerns about “poor planning and mismanagement of extended deployments” and its impact on US troops.

Led by Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, the lawmakers said supplies are running low and conditions are worsening aboard several ships and at US military bases in the region.

They specifically highlighted the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed in the Middle East for nearly nine months. The ship has also faced reports of a serious mental health crisis among its crew.

The senators accused US military leadership of a “systemic failure of planning and adaptation,” saying troops are suffering because the administration has failed to end the war or ensure they have safe access to food, medication and other essential supplies.

They also warned that the situation could hurt military recruitment and retention.

“Why would anyone sign up to fight when they fear they will be exploited and left without supplies, recourse or support?” they asked in the letter.

“The stakes couldn’t be higher,” the senators said, warning that the longer the administration fails to present a plan to end a “disastrous war,” the longer US service members will face its consequences.

The decision on whether to hold the requested public hearing now rests with Wicker.

According to the Pentagon’s latest casualty figures, more than 750 US military personnel have been wounded since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The Department of War’s casualty database, updated on Wednesday, added more than 50 wounded personnel, bringing the official toll to 757 wounded and 18 killed since February 28, when the United States and Israel launched their aggression against Iran.