Bombings have reached exhaustion: The CENTCOM commander's recommendation that shifted Trump's position
Admiral Cooper recommended that the Pentagon and the White House end the waves of strikes in the Strait of Hormuz, as most designated targets had already been hit. He emphasized that without an intent to escalate, continuing the bombings is pointless. This recommendation influenced President Donald Trump's decision to pause strikes in Iran.
The commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, Admiral Brad Cooper, recommended to the Pentagon and the White House that they end the waves of strikes in the Strait of Hormuz area, as they have reached exhaustion in terms of their effectiveness, according to two sources familiar with his position.
Why it matters
Sources stated that the recommendation of the commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), along with the positions of other advisors who clarified the limitations of military action, influenced President Donald Trump's decision on Friday to pause U.S. strikes against Iran.
Situation report
On Friday, President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. military, for the first time in two weeks, to cease fire and refrain from carrying out any strikes against Iranian targets along the southern coast of Iran and in the Strait of Hormuz area. The decision was made after a meeting with his senior advisors and military officials, during which the new strike plan for that day was presented to him. According to sources, in the days leading up to the meeting, Donald Trump was inclined to return to a large-scale military operation against Iran, but this trend began to shift as early as Thursday evening. Donald Trump's decision to halt the waves of strikes in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday afternoon completed the shift in his position.
Behind the scenes
Earlier this week, Admiral Cooper presented his recommendations to the Pentagon, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the White House. He emphasized that two weeks of strikes in the Strait of Hormuz area significantly eroded Iran's military capability to attack vessels. According to sources, Cooper noted that most of the targets marked around the Strait of Hormuz had already been struck. The CENTCOM commander stated that the next possible step is a return to a large-scale military operation to destroy approximately 20% of the targets that the U.S. military had marked but did not strike during Operation Epic Fury. However, Cooper emphasized:
"If the decision is not to escalate the fighting and not to return to a large-scale operation, there is no point in continuing the waves of strikes that have been conducted over the last two weeks."
Focus
Sources said that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kane, also warned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump in private conversations about a shortage of interceptors for air defense systems, which could harm the ability to protect U.S. forces and allies in the region. Kane's warning was first reported by The New York Times. A spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff declined to comment on the classified military advice the Chairman provides to the President.
What to watch for
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said today in an interview with the Meet the Press program on NBC that while President Donald Trump is keeping all options on the table, he is also providing space for talks with Iran. Waltz added that negotiations between the United States and Iran are continuing at all levels.
