Trump Admiral Pushes 2-Week Plan For Heavy Iran Bombings
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President Donald Trump is considering another devastating round of attacks against Iran as military leaders debate whether a major escalation could finally break the five-month battlefield stalemate. No final decision has been made. But Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, has developed an option for a sustained air campaign lasting between 10 and 14 days, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Trump Admiral would target Iranian command centers, missile launchers, drone facilities and infrastructure linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Cooper’s strategy follows a simple principle: The United States should destroy Iran’s offensive weapons before Tehran can use them against American troops, ships and regional allies.
Trump Admiral Wants to Crush Iran’s Missiles
The proposed campaign would be significantly larger than the limited retaliatory strikes Washington has recently conducted.
Cooper reportedly believes smaller attacks have failed to deter Iran from threatening commercial shipping and firing missiles at U.S. forces. His preferred option would attempt to cripple Tehran’s remaining missile and drone capabilities through nearly two weeks of intensive bombardment.
The strategy could also address an increasingly serious American vulnerability: dwindling supplies of air-defense interceptors.
Patriot, THAAD and other defensive missiles are needed to protect U.S. bases and allies throughout the Middle East. They are also central to America’s broader deterrence against potential conflicts involving China, Russia or North Korea.
The Trump Admiral argues that destroying Iranian missiles on the ground would reduce the number of expensive interceptors the United States must fire later.
The concern became more urgent after Iran launched a surprise missile attack against American forces in Jordan. U.S. officials said the incoming weapons were intercepted, but the attack demonstrated Tehran’s willingness to escalate while diplomatic efforts continued.
Pentagon Divided Over Escalation
Not every senior commander supports Cooper’s aggressive approach.
General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has taken a more cautious position. He has warned the White House about depleted interceptor inventories and the wider consequences of committing additional weapons and forces to another major air campaign.
Low inventories would not necessarily prevent renewed attacks. However, they would increase the danger to U.S. bases and allies if Iran retaliated heavily—or if another crisis erupted elsewhere.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly supports Cooper’s more forceful option. Israeli forces could also participate if Trump authorizes a return to major combat operations.
Iran Survived the First Assault
Skeptics warn that Washington has already underestimated Iran’s ability to survive.
During the war’s opening phase, American and Israeli aircraft destroyed large numbers of missile launchers, weapons facilities and air-defense sites. Administration officials initially claimed Iran’s missile program had been functionally destroyed.
But Tehran had hidden weapons and launchers inside underground complexes. Iranian forces later resumed attacks using drones, altered missile routes and new maneuvers designed to evade U.S. defenses.
Cooper had reportedly estimated before the war that the military campaign could require at least six weeks. Trump ended the first major offensive much earlier as casualties, oil prices and military risks increased.
The president now faces the same fundamental decision: authorize a limited response and preserve a path toward negotiations—or follow the Trump Admiral into a two-week offensive carrying a far greater risk of regional escalation.
