US Central Command leader says Iran campaign is ‘ahead or on plan’
The top commander of the US military’s Central Command said the offensive against Iran was “on track or as planned” as the Israeli military began what he called a “large-scale wave of attacks targeting the infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime” early on Monday.
U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper gave his first one-on-one interview about the war to Persian-language satellite network Iran International early Monday. Iranian media reported new airstrikes targeting Tehran, without specifying the locations hit.
The previous day, Tehran warned that it could attack US and Israeli energy and infrastructure assets if Israel or the US tried to carry out the President’s order. Donald Trump US threat “Destroy” Iran’s power plants if it does not open completely Strait of Hormuz.
Trump faces growing pressure at home to secure the Strait oil prices are rising — he gave the ultimatum in a social media post while spending the weekend at his home in Florida.
The war death toll has risen to more than 1,500 in Iran, more than 1,000 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel and 13 U.S. military members, as well as scores of civilians on land and at sea in the Gulf region. Millions of people were displaced in Lebanon and Iran.
Here is the latest situation:
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US Central Command’s Cooper says Iran is ‘operating with signs of desperation’
The head of the US military’s Central Command said Iran was “operating as a display of desperation” by targeting civilian areas in the war.
“They are operating in a sign of desperation. … They have very deliberately attacked civilian targets over 300 times in the last few weeks,” U.S. Navy Admiral Brad Cooper said in an interview with the Persian-language Iran International satellite network broadcast early Monday.
Cooper pointed out that Iran’s attacks on the Middle East have slowed down as the war entered its fourth week.
“You saw large volumes of dozens of drones and missiles at the beginning of the conflict,” Cooper said.
“You can’t see that anymore. It’s all one or two at a time.”
US Central Command leader says campaign ‘on track or on schedule’
The top commander of the US military’s Central Command says US action against Iran is “on track or on schedule.”
U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper gave his first one-on-one interview about the war to Persian-language satellite network Iran International early Monday.
Cooper said Iran’s ongoing attacks on Gulf Arab states and the Middle East put civilians at risk.
He added that the USA and Israel also targeted missile and drone production facilities.
“We are also after production,” he said. “So the issue is not just about today’s threat. “We are eliminating the threat of the future, both in terms of drones, missiles and the navy.”
Cooper also said that it is not time for the Iranian people to take to the streets; However, both Israel and the United States have said they hope the Iranian people will overthrow the country’s theocracy as a result of the strikes.
“They’re launching missiles and drones from populated areas, and you need to stay inside for now,” Cooper said. “As the president has stated, there will be a clear signal that you can come out at some point.”
