According to local media reports, the head of the U.S. Central Command, who oversees military operations against Iran, recommended halting the airstrikes in the Strait of Hormuz, judging that their military effectiveness had practically reached its limit, and this recommendation influenced President Trump's order to suspend the strikes.
Citing multiple sources on the 27th local time, the U.S. online media outlet Axios reported that General Brad Cooper, the commander of the U.S. Central Command, recently submitted a recommendation to this effect to the Department of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the White House.
According to Axios, Commander Cooper judged that about two weeks of airstrikes around the Strait of Hormuz had significantly weakened Iran's ship-attack capabilities and that most of the major strike targets previously selected by the U.S. military had already been hit.
In response, he reportedly reported that the next step could involve reviewing a large-scale military operation to strike the remaining 20 percent of targets that were not attacked during the U.S. Operation Epic Fury.
However, Axios reported that he emphasized there was little practical military benefit in continuing limited air-centric airstrikes at the level maintained over the past two weeks without a full-scale offensive.
On the 24th, after receiving reports from senior aides and military leadership, President Trump ordered the military to temporarily suspend airstrikes in the Strait of Hormuz.
It is reported that President Trump had been leaning toward resuming large-scale airstrikes until right before the meeting, but his stance began to shift starting on the evening of the 23rd.
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, also reportedly warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Trump privately that shortages of air defense interceptor missiles could weaken the defense capabilities of U.S. forces and allies stationed in the Middle East.
At the same time, the United States is continuing behind-the-scenes negotiations with Iran over the operation of the Strait of Hormuz, but it remains uncertain whether this phase will lead to the reinstatement of a memorandum of understanding for a ceasefire or a complete end to the war.
Reported by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Jang Yu-jin | Graphics by Lee Jung-joo | Produced by SBS Digital News
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