WSJ: U.S. military drafts 10- to 14-day airstrike plan on Iran pending Trump decision

WSJ: U.S. military drafts 10- to 14-day airstrike plan on Iran pending Trump decision

N
News Editor
2026-07-29 23:56:09
The Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump held urgent talks last week aboard Air Force One on a tarmac in Delaware with senior military officials, including Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, Defense Secretary Hegseth, and Gen. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command. Cooper presented a punitive air campaign option against Iran that could last up to two weeks. The report said Trump, after Iran launched a surprise missile attack on Tuesday, has vowed retaliation but remains split between two paths. One option would authorize Cooper’s proposal for 10 to 14 days of intensive strikes aimed at crippling Iran’s missile capabilities. The other would involve a more limited military response that leaves room for diplomacy. According to the Journal, military officials have also warned that air defense munitions are running low. People familiar with the planning said Cooper’s high-intensity option was designed to break the deadlock of tit-for-tat airstrikes through rapid escalation. In the set of plans he prepared, the heavier strike approach would also reduce U.S. demand for defensive munitions by weakening Iran’s ability to attack.
Donald TrumpIranU.S. militaryThe Wall Street JournalAirstrikesPolicy Regulation

The Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump held urgent talks last week aboard Air Force One while it was on a tarmac in Delaware with senior military advisers, including Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine and Defense Secretary Hegseth.

Gen. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, also took part in the meeting. According to the report, Cooper drafted a punitive airstrike plan against Iran that could run for as long as two weeks.

After Iran launched a surprise missile attack on Tuesday, Trump vowed retaliation, but the report said he remains torn between different options. One path would be to approve Cooper’s proposal for 10 to 14 days of intensive airstrikes aimed at crippling Iran’s missile capabilities. Another would be a more restrained military response that keeps room open for diplomatic mediation.

The Journal said military officials have already warned that air defense munition stockpiles are running low.

People familiar with the matter said Cooper’s high-intensity option was designed to break the stalemate created by earlier tit-for-tat airstrikes through a sharp escalation. In the range of plans he prepared, that harder-strike approach would also reduce the need for the U.S. to use defensive munitions because Iran’s offensive capability would be weakened.

This article was originally published by Bit.Fan. For more cryptocurrency news and market insights, visit www.bit.fan.
100

Disclaimer:

The market information, project data, and third-party content displayed on this platform are for industry information sharing only and do not constitute any form of investment advice or return commitment.

Cryptocurrency trading carries high risks. Users should fully assess their risk tolerance and make independent decisions. All profits, losses, and legal responsibilities are borne by the users themselves.