The United States is considering a large-scale airstrike campaign lasting up to two weeks in response to Iran's missile attack on U.S. military bases. The aim is to significantly weaken Iran's missile capabilities to deter further attacks.
According to the Wall Street Journal on July 29, U.S. Central Command chief Brad Cooper has developed a military operation plan for concentrated airstrikes against Iran over a period of 10 to 14 days. If approved by President Donald Trump, U.S. military operations against Iran could expand significantly.
On the night of July 29, Central Command already initiated retaliatory airstrikes against Iran, responding to a ballistic missile attack targeting U.S. forces stationed in Jordan the previous day.
Central Command reported that dozens of targets were struck, including command and control facilities and missile and drone sites belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). However, it remains undecided whether these strikes will be limited or escalate into a two-week high-intensity campaign.
Cooper believes that the current limited airstrikes are insufficient to deter Iran's attacks. He argues that increasing the intensity of airstrikes is necessary to significantly degrade Iran's missile launch capabilities, thereby reducing the likelihood of further attacks on U.S. bases and the Strait of Hormuz.
By first diminishing Iran's attack capabilities, Cooper contends that the depletion of interceptor missiles used by U.S. forces for defense can also be minimized.
In contrast, Dan Cain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has taken a more cautious stance. He is reportedly concerned about the potential for large-scale airstrikes to provoke further retaliation and the decreasing stockpile of U.S. interceptor missiles.
U.S. interceptor missiles are essential not only for countering Iranian attacks but also for defending other military bases and allies against threats from China, North Korea, and Russia. However, Cain also believes that the current stock levels do not render a large-scale military operation against Iran impossible.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reportedly supporting Cooper's plan for high-intensity airstrikes. If the U.S. resumes large-scale military operations, the involvement of Israeli forces is also being discussed.
President Trump has promised a strong response to Iran. In a Fox News interview, he stated, "We will hit Iran hard." However, he also indicated that he would continue to seek dialogue with Iran, leaving the door open for negotiations.
A senior U.S. administration official told the Wall Street Journal that "President Trump is currently in a mood to escalate," but he is deliberating on the extent of the attacks.
Previous military operations have not completely eradicated Iran's missile capabilities. Iran has redeployed launchers that remained in underground facilities and resumed missile and drone attacks. Earlier this month, an attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan resulted in the deaths of three American service members. On July 28, Iran launched ballistic missiles targeting U.S. forces, all of which were intercepted.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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