CENTCOM presented Trump with a plan for a two-week operation against Iran

The head of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Brad Cooper, presented U.S. President Donald Trump with a plan for intensive airstrikes on Iran lasting 10-14 days and aimed at destroying Iran's missile capabilities, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing informed sources.

According to them, the idea underlying the course of action proposed by Cooper is to go beyond retaliatory airstrikes, which have done little to deter Tehran from attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz and firing missiles at U.S. forces in the region, and to launch a sharp escalation of military operations.

Cooper proposed intensifying the air attacks, significantly weakening the missile threat from Iran, in order to try to break the deadlock, the sources note. According to them, the head of CENTCOM believes that this "large-scale" approach will reduce the need for the United States to use missile defense assets, since Iran will have fewer opportunities for missile attacks.

Meanwhile, as the sources reported, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, who often warns the White House about the possible consequences of military options, expressed concern about the dwindling stockpiles of interceptor missiles, which are needed to protect American bases and allies from Iranian missile attacks.

According to the sources, Caine believes that the low level of stockpiles does not rule out the resumption of major combat operations against Iran, but increases the risks.

Source: Interfax