Trump weighs two-week air campaign against Iran over Jordan attack

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is reviewing a proposed two-week air campaign against Iran in response to a missile strike on US forces in Jordan, the Wall Street Journal reported. The plan, prepared by US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper, is described as a punitive intensive air operation aimed at inflicting heavy damage on Iran's ballistic missile capability and easing pressure on American air defenses in the region. Cooper has argued that sustained, high-intensity strikes could destroy missile launchers, storage sites and production facilities, the Journal reported. Trump has not made a final decision, with options ranging from limited strikes that leave room for negotiations to the broader campaign recommended by CENTCOM. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth favors a strong military response, while Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine has warned of risks tied to dwindling stocks of Patriot and THAAD interceptors. According to Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates, US Patriot missile stocks have fallen by at least 65 percent and THAAD stocks by about 38 percent since the start of the war. The plan follows an Iranian missile strike on the Muwaffaq al-Salti Air Base, which killed four US service members. Trump has said the United States will deliver a "very hard" response. The Journal noted that earlier strikes did not eliminate Iran's missile capabilities, with Tehran able to draw launchers from underground complexes and pair missiles with drones to evade US defenses.