The top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, Adm. Brad Cooper, recommended stopping the bombing campaign around the Strait of Hormuz because it has reached the limit of its effectiveness, according to two sources with knowledge of his position.
Why it matters: The recommendation by Cooper, the commander of the U.S. Military Central Command (CENTCOM), together with other advisers impacted President Trump's decision on Friday to pause U.S. strikes against Iran, thesources said.
It was an acknowledgement by both military and civilian advisers to the president that there are limits to what can be accomplished through military action, and specifically an air power campaign.
Driving the news: For the first time in two weeks, Trump ordered the military to hold fire and not conduct strikes against Iranian targets around the southern coast of Iran and in the Strait of Hormuz area.
The decision came after a meeting with top advisers and military officials who presented him with a new strike plan for the day.
In the days before the meeting, Trump had been leaning toward returning to major combat operations, but his mindset started to change on Thursday evening, sources said.
His decision to pump the brakes on bombing the strait solidified on Friday.
Behind the scenes: Earlier in the week, Admiral Cooper gave his recommendation on the way forward to the Pentagon, the joint chiefs and the White House, the sources said.
He stressed that the two weeks of strikes in the Strait of Hormuz area had significantly degraded Iran's ability to attack ships.
Cooper noted that the designated bombing targets had been mostly exhausted.
The CENTCOM commander said a possible next step would be to resume major combat operations to finish the 20% of targets the U.S. military designated but didn't strike during Operation Epic Fury.
Absent a decision to return to major combat operations, he stressed there was no point in continuing the bombing campaign of the previous two weeks, the sources said.
CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins declined to comment.
Zoom in: The sources said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine also cautioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Trump in private that a shortage of air defense interceptors could hamper the ability to protect U.S. forces and allies in the region.
Caine's warning was first reported by the New York Times. A spokesman for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff declined to comment "on confidential military advice the Chairman provides the President".
What to watch: Iran and Oman are still negotiating a new arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz that would be designed to reopen it for transit of ships with no attacks.
But it is unclear if a deal between the two countries would be acceptable to Trump. If not, the war could escalate again.
In the meantime, the situation on the ground seems to be "quiet for quiet," with both sides pausing their attacks.
U.S. ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that while Trump is "keeping all options on the table," the president is also "giving talks [with Iran] some space."
Waltz said talks between the U.S. and Iran "are ongoing on every level."
Zoom out: The U.S. and U.K. are still discussing the international conference they want to convene later this week on establishing a coalition to protect and clear mines from the strait of Hormuz.
Facts Only
* Admiral Brad Cooper recommended stopping the bombing campaign around the Strait of Hormuz due to limited effectiveness.
* The recommendation impacted President Trump's decision to pause U.S. strikes against Iran on Friday.
* The action reflected an acknowledgement that military action has limits, particularly air power campaigns.
* For two weeks, the military was ordered to hold fire and not conduct strikes against Iranian targets around the southern coast of Iran and in the Strait of Hormuz area for the first time in two weeks.
* Admiral Cooper stated that the designated bombing targets were mostly exhausted.
* Cooper suggested a possible next step would be resuming major combat operations to finish unexecuted targets.
* Cooper stressed there was no point in continuing the bombing campaign without a decision on returning to major combat operations.
* The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff cautioned about a shortage of air defense interceptors that could hamper protection for U.S. forces and allies in the region.
* Iran and Oman are negotiating an arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for transit of ships without attacks.
Executive Summary
The U.S. military commander in the Middle East, Admiral Brad Cooper, recommended stopping the bombing campaign around the Strait of Hormuz because it had reached its limit of effectiveness, according to two sources familiar with his position. This recommendation, along with other advisors, influenced President Trump's decision on Friday to pause U.S. strikes against Iran. This action reflected an acknowledgment by military and civilian advisers that military action, specifically air power campaigns, has limits on what can be achieved.
The decision resulted in the order for the military to hold fire for two weeks, which was the first time since two weeks, preventing strikes against Iranian targets around the southern coast of Iran and in the Strait of Hormuz area. Admiral Cooper stressed that the bombing had significantly degraded Iran's ability to attack ships, noting that designated targets were largely exhausted. He suggested a possible next step would be resuming major combat operations to finish unexecuted targets but insisted there was no point in continuing the previous bombing campaign without a decision on returning to major combat operations.
Additionally, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff cautioned others privately regarding a potential shortage of air defense interceptors that could hinder the protection of U.S. forces and allies in the region. Meanwhile, Iran and Oman are negotiating an arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for safe ship transit, though acceptance by President Trump remains unclear.
Full Take
The narrative reveals a tension between operational objectives and the practical constraints of military intervention, illustrating how strategic recommendations filter into high-level political decisions. The recommendation to cease bombing stems from an assessment that offensive military action has reached diminishing returns, shifting the focus from achieving maximal immediate effect to assessing long-term strategic alternatives. This suggests that the perceived efficacy of a specific method—air power strikes in this context—is directly tied to tangible outcomes regarding Iran's naval capabilities rather than purely kinetic objectives.
A deeper pattern emerges in the interplay between on-the-ground military assessment and political decision-making: when military leadership presents an evaluation of limits, it forces a pause in kinetic action, effectively creating space for diplomatic or logistical solutions. The subsequent cautious optimism regarding resuming limited operations suggests that future escalation is governed not just by immediate military capacity but also by the viability of negotiated arrangements, such as the pending talks between Iran and Oman regarding the Strait.
The warning from the Joint Chiefs regarding air defense capabilities introduces a systemic layer: operational success is constrained by resource limitations. This implies that decisions made at the highest levels must incorporate an understanding of underlying constraints—like interceptor shortages—to avoid unforeseen escalations resulting from overextension. The core implication is that strategic maneuvering requires recognizing that military momentum alone does not guarantee success; it must be balanced against diplomatic possibilities and systemic vulnerabilities to maintain agency in a complex geopolitical environment.
Bridge Questions: What specific metrics define the "limit of effectiveness" cited by Cooper, and how should political leaders weigh these operational constraints against long-term diplomatic goals? What is the mechanism for integrating resource warnings, like the air defense shortage, into real-time strike planning? If a deal regarding the Strait of Hormuz is not acceptable to all parties, what are the most likely escalation pathways that remain unaddressed by current negotiations?
Sentinel — Human
The text reads like standard, fact-based news reporting that synthesizes reported military advice and diplomatic status updates, showing low signs of synthetic generation.