WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump’s pick to command all U.S. military forces in the Middle East warned lawmakers Tuesday that Iran retains “significant tactical capability” to launch attacks against American personnel, including the use of ballistic missiles like those recently fired at a major U.S. military installation.
Vice Adm. Charles “Brad” Cooper, nominated to lead U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee just one day after Iran launched a barrage of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The attack, which caused damage but no confirmed fatalities, followed U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure over the weekend.
Cooper, using a football analogy to describe U.S. force posture, said troops in the region “need to be in a three-point stance every single day” to counter persistent threats from Tehran. His warning reflects mounting concerns that despite years of sanctions and military pressure, Iran’s capacity to strike remains robust and unpredictable.
The warning from Cooper came as the ceasefire between Israel and Iran teetered on the brink of collapse. Despite a surprise announcement from Trump on Monday night declaring a “complete and total ceasefire,” both countries exchanged fire in the hours that followed, accusing each other of violating the deal.
The Iranian missile attack on Israel overnight killed at least four civilians, according to Israeli authorities. In response, the Israeli Defense Forces launched what it called “strategic retaliatory strikes,” dropping more than 100 munitions on targets in Tehran and other major Iranian cities. Witnesses described a night of explosions in the Iranian capital, with videos shared online showing fires raging in multiple districts.
While neither side has released full details of the ceasefire agreement Trump referenced, both Israeli and Iranian officials have cast their military operations as victories — fueling skepticism about the viability of any lasting truce.
As the 12-day war drags on, the human cost continues to rise sharply. Iran’s Health Ministry reported Tuesday that at least 610 people have died since hostilities began. Independent tallies from the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a U.S.-based watchdog group, put the death toll closer to 974, citing extensive civilian casualties in urban areas.
In Israel, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed 28 fatalities, including those killed in the overnight missile barrage and earlier drone strikes. Thousands have been injured across both countries, with hospitals in Tehran, Tabriz, and Haifa reportedly overwhelmed.
The conflict has thrust Trump’s approach to the Middle East back into the spotlight. The president’s decision to greenlight airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities — targeting sites in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow — triggered not only Iran’s retaliatory missile launches but also widespread protests in Tehran and other cities.
Despite the renewed violence, Trump has defended the strikes as a “necessary show of strength,” while downplaying Iran’s missile retaliation as a symbolic move designed to “save face.” The Pentagon has not released a full damage assessment from the al-Udeid strike, though officials said the base remains operational.
As Vice Adm. Cooper prepares to assume command of CENTCOM, the challenges ahead appear daunting. With Iran’s missile threat still very real and the region’s largest war in decades still unfolding, U.S. forces are once again at the center of a volatile geopolitical crisis with no clear resolution in sight.
