CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper Plans Airstrikes to Paralyze Iran’s Missiles

The strategy seeks to reduce Tehran’s ability to launch attacks. This approach aims to lower the U.S. reliance on defensive munitions by removing the threat at its source.

Admiral Cooper’s 14-Day Escalation Plan

The primary objective is the paralysis of the Islamic Republic's missile capabilities. This move comes as a direct response to the failure of previous "tit-for-tat" strategies, which Cooper believes did not deter Tehran from continuing its strikes against American forces in the Middle East.

By neutralizing the Iranian missile threat, the U.S. would effectively reduce its need to expend these critical defensive assets.

Trump’s Response and the Depth of Retaliation

President Trump has already signaled a willingness to use force, having threatened Tehran and announced that the U.S. military would strike with power. However, the exact scale of the coming response remains undecided. While a senior administration official stated the president is in a mood of escalation, the White House is still weighing the depth of the response.

The administration is currently balancing two distinct paths: approving Cooper’s intensive two-week campaign or opting for a more limited military strike that preserves a diplomatic channel. This tension is mirrored in Washington, where critics of the plan argue that any new aerial operation risks dragging the administration deeper into war.

Israeli Involvement and Regional Security

The scope of the operation may extend beyond a unilateral U.S. action. Official sources cited in the reporting indicate that Israel may be included in a potential large-scale American attack.

On July 1, 2026, Admiral Cooper met with senior military officials from a wide array of regional partners, including Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, to discuss the security environment and defense collaboration during a dialogue hosted by the Bahrain Defense Force.

The immediate catalyst for this escalation was an Iranian missile attack on U.S. bases in Jordan. The U.S. has already renewed its strikes against Iran in response to that event, but the decision to move from retaliatory strikes to a systematic paralysis of missile infrastructure now rests with the president.