CENTCOM chief urged halt to Iran strikes after campaign has met objectives

The commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East advised the Trump administration to halt its bombing campaign around the Strait of Hormuz after concluding the operation had achieved most of its military objectives, according to a new report.

Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), reportedly told senior Pentagon officials and the White House that continued airstrikes would deliver little additional military benefit unless Washington was prepared to significantly escalate the conflict with Iran.

Military campaign reached its limits

According to Axios, Cooper informed Defense Department leaders, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and President Donald Trump's national security team that two weeks of sustained strikes had substantially weakened Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

He reportedly concluded that the campaign had reached the point of diminishing returns, with most of the priority targets already destroyed.

Military officials said only a limited number of worthwhile targets remained unless the United States expanded the scope of its operations.

Advice helped shape Trump's decision

Cooper's assessment is said to have played a key role in President Trump's decision on Friday to suspend further strikes against Iranian positions along the country's southern coastline.

The move marked the first operational pause since the air campaign began nearly two weeks earlier.

The decision followed a high-level White House meeting where military commanders presented updated battlefield assessments and options for future operations.

Sources familiar with the discussions said Trump had been considering a broader military offensive earlier in the week but began reconsidering after receiving updated intelligence and operational advice.

Most targets already hit

According to officials briefed on the discussions, Cooper said the majority of military targets identified during Operation Epic Fury had already been struck.

Around 20 percent of the original target list remained untouched, but the CENTCOM commander reportedly argued those objectives would only justify further attacks if the United States chose to launch a much larger military campaign.

Without such an escalation, he believed additional limited airstrikes would offer little strategic value.

Focus shifts to deterrence

The pause reflects a growing consensus among senior military planners that the immediate objective of reducing Iran's ability to disrupt one of the world's most important shipping lanes has largely been achieved.

The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly a fifth of global oil supplies, making its security a key priority for Washington and its allies.

While the bombing campaign has been suspended, U.S. officials have stressed that American forces remain ready to resume military operations should Iran threaten international shipping or target U.S. personnel and allies in the region.

CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins declined to comment on reports of Cooper's recommendations or the internal discussions that preceded the decision to pause the operation.

SOURCE

There Targets are still the same but less of them. There still capable of launching missiles and drones on potential targets ? there has been no regime change its still the same as it was before America attacked it bar the Name in charge. Shipping is still blocked up, so what objectives has the US met ?

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by BarraMarra

13 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

what objectives has the US met ?

They have achieved the aim of using up their weapons stockpile to protect Isreal.