Active‑duty and reserve U.S. military personnel are expressing deepening disillusionment with President Donald Trump’s strategy in the war against Iran, fearing they are being treated as “political pawns” amid mounting casualties and what they describe as inadequate planning and force protection, according to an investigation by HuffPost.

Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed and 232 wounded in the Middle East since the conflict began four weeks ago, the report said, as thousands of additional sailors and Marines deploy to the region. 

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A veteran and reservist who advises junior officers, speaking anonymously, said her contacts describe an unprecedented “loss of faith.” She added: “We don’t want to die for Israel.”

Mike Prysner, the executive director of the Center on Conscience and War, said his group would in past years hear from between 50 and 80 troops annually. The month of March has seen a 1,000% increase, he added, saying at least one new service member now contacts the organization daily.

On Friday, he wrote on X that his group is handling “expedited” objector applications by Army, Navy and Marines personnel who were told they will be deploying this weekend.

Meanwhile, Matt Howard, the co-director of the group About Face: Veterans Against The War, said his organization has been helping more active duty troops understand their options for dissent.

“The military makes it seem like there is only one route, its through their contract and that the consequences otherwise are devastating,” Howard said. However, he explains that service members have more options than they often realize, including the right to seek conscientious objector status. He noted that a growing number of troops are pursuing that route, and his organization is now having such conversations more frequently than it has in years.

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