Wall Street Journal says Trump weighs military options as officials reportedly debate risks and strategy
WASHINGTON: US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Adm. Brad Cooper has reportedly presented President Donald Trump with a proposal for a 10-to-14-day air campaign aimed at significantly degrading Iran’s missile capabilities, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The report, citing unnamed US officials, said the proposed operation is intended to reduce Iran’s ability to launch missile attacks by targeting launch sites and related military infrastructure. According to the report, Israeli forces could participate in the campaign if Trump approves the broader military option.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Cooper believes a sustained offensive could reduce the need for US interceptor missiles by limiting Iran’s capacity to fire missiles rather than relying primarily on defensive systems.
Officials reportedly differ over military risks
According to the report, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine has expressed a more cautious assessment, warning about the potential second- and third-order consequences of an expanded campaign.
The report said Caine also raised concerns over declining US interceptor missile inventories, noting that those stockpiles are needed to protect American forces, regional bases and allied countries. However, he reportedly did not rule out military action.
The Wall Street Journal further reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supports Cooper’s proposal and that the plan was discussed with President Trump aboard Air Force One following events at Dover Air Force Base.
Decision remains under consideration
According to the report, an unnamed senior US official described Trump as being in an “escalatory mood” while continuing to evaluate the scale of any possible response.
The report also said some officials questioned the long-term effectiveness of another large-scale strike, arguing that previous attacks on Iranian missile infrastructure had only temporarily disrupted operations before launch capabilities were restored.
Neither the White House nor CENTCOM has publicly confirmed the reported proposal or announced a decision on possible military action.
The report reflects deliberations attributed to unnamed officials, and no official policy or operational plan has been formally announced by the US government.
🚨🇺🇸🇮🇱 CENTCOM's commander has handed Trump a two-week plan to gut Iran's missile force, and Israel could fly with it.
-Adm. Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM chief running the war from Tampa, has prepared a 10-to-14 day intensive air campaign built to break the stalemate by wrecking… pic.twitter.com/lJHDWhZMp2
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 30, 2026
