CENTCOM Denies Report That Commander Pushed for Renewed Strikes on Iran

U.S. Central Command rejected an Israeli media report on Friday that alleged its commander had advocated for renewed military strikes against Iran during a recent visit to Israel.

Capt. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, told i24NEWS that claims Adm. Brad Cooper told senior Israeli officials he was pushing for renewed strikes and resumption of conflict with Iran are "an outright fabrication. It's not true at all."

The denial came after Channel 13 reported Thursday that Cooper attended a meeting of the Israeli military's senior operational forum that included Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other senior commanders. According to the network, Cooper urged strikes on Iranian infrastructure, including oil, gas and electricity facilities, saying such attacks "will change the rules of the game, will hurt the Iranians badly, and in the current situation they will not change their positions."

Channel 13 also reported Cooper contended that fighting against Iran should resume and that the United States might need to renew hostilities, with Israel needed for joint strikes. The network said the same position had been conveyed to senior U.S. Military leaders and President Donald Trump.

Hawkins directly contradicted the report in his comments to i24NEWS. CENTCOM has not issued a separate written statement on the matter.

The reported exchange and later denial occur as regional tensions remain elevated following earlier U.S. And Israeli military operations targeting Iranian capabilities.