Families confront Navy leaders over Iran mission

Families were told 7,000 service members will miss the holidays and to plan for a possible yearlong deployment after a second tour extension.

MS.NOW

'nuclear-armed'

SUMMARY

Navy leaders told 500 family members of the USS George H.W. Bush strike group that Iranian attacks continue to “pepper” U.S. ships enforcing the Iran blockade.

At a heated Nov. 9 town hall in Norfolk, they said 7,000 service members won’t be home for the holidays, and families should plan for a worst-case yearlong deployment.

It’s the second extension since the group left March 31. Some relatives shouted at officials for giving them the “runaround.”

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao warned that without action now, Iran would soon have too many cruise missiles and drones to penetrate and be “nuclear-armed.”