The Wall Street Journal:

By Alexander Ward, Lara Seligman and Shelby Holliday

The Pentagon is raising concerns to President Trump about an extended military campaign against Iran, advising that war plans being considered carry risks including U.S. and allied casualties, depleted air defenses and an overtaxed force.

The warnings have largely been voiced by Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, within the Defense Department and during meetings of the National Security Council, current and former officials said, but other Pentagon leaders also have noted similar worries.

Such discussions are always part of the contingency-planning process before military operations, some officials said, noting that military leaders—especially the Joint Chiefs chair—provide prudent estimates of possible casualties and other potential costs of military operations.

Options being studied for strikes on Iran range from initial limited strikes to a dayslong aerial campaign aimed at toppling the regime. All options carry risks, but a prolonged campaign in particular could incur significant costs to U.S. forces and munitions stockpiles, officials said, complicating the protection of regional partners if Iran is able to retaliate. If the U.S. uses up large amounts of air-defense munitions and other items that are in limited supply, it could also impact preparations for a possible future conflict with China.

Officials say the issues raised by Caine, widely seen as a trusted aide by Trump, and others will be a factor in the president’s decision on whether to attack Iran and how. Officials say Trump has yet to make up his mind. The U.S. has assembled the largest amount of air power in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq war, including an aircraft-carrier strike group. A second carrier is now in the Mediterranean.

“General Caine is a highly respected professional whose job requires providing unbiased information to the Commander in Chief, which he does perfectly,” said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly. “President Trump listens to feedback from all members of his national security team, and he is always the final decision maker.”

“General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won,” Trump posted on social-media platform Truth Social later on Monday, following media reports about Caine’s warnings.

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