Al Mayadeen English
"We don't want to die for Israel," #US troops question the war on #Iran, warning of poor planning, rising casualties, and a war they say lacks clear objectives.
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https://english.almayadeen.net/news/...-iran-war-grow
US troops refuse being 'pawns' as dissent over Iran war grows
Doubts are spreading among US troops over Washington’s ongoing war on Iran, with growing concern about the war's objectives, rising casualties, and the possibility of a ground invasion.
As the US intensifies its aggression, deploying additional forces to the region, reports indicate increasing unease among active-duty personnel and reservists. Several service members, speaking anonymously, described feelings of vulnerability, stress, and disillusionment, with some considering leaving the military altogether.
A military official involved in treating evacuated troops said forces are facing “inadequate protection and planning,” highlighting the toll of repeated Iranian missile and drone strikes on US bases.
At least 13 US troops have been killed and more than 230 wounded since the start of the war, according to officials cited in the report.
Concerns have also intensified over the possibility of a US ground operation in Iran, which some military personnel described as lacking clear planning.
A ground invasion would be “an absolute disaster… we don’t have a plan for that,” one official said earlier this week, adding that the US cannot even "fully defend a single land base in the theater."
Moral and political opposition emerges
Some troops have also voiced opposition to the political motivations behind the war. One reservist reported hearing service members say, "We do not want to die for Israel — we don’t want to be political pawns."
Advocacy groups supporting military personnel reported a sharp rise in inquiries about conscientious objector status, with some organizations noting a dramatic increase in requests since the war began.
Matt Howard, co-director of the group About Face: Veterans Against The War, said his organization has increasingly been assisting active-duty troops in understanding their options for dissent.
“Folks have more options than they think they do. The military makes it seem like there is only one route, it's through their contract, and that the consequences otherwise are devastating," adding that "more and more folks are going that particular route."
A lack of a clear strategic narrative has further contributed to declining morale, according to sources.
The war has also raised broader concerns among troops about US foreign policy in the region, particularly amid the escalating US-Israeli war and its regional repercussions.
Experts warn that growing dissatisfaction within the military could impact the effectiveness of the campaign and signal deeper shifts in attitudes toward US military interventions abroad.
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