Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, has privately warned senior Trump administration officials that air power alone cannot achieve the stated goals in Iran, according to a CNN report cited by i24NEWS. Caine reportedly discussed the need for an 'off-ramp' from the conflict, describing limited military options.
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, has privately warned senior Trump administration officials that air power alone cannot achieve the stated goals in Iran, according to a CNN report cited by i24NEWS. The warning adds specific detail to the emerging picture of internal US military reservations about the Iran campaign.
The Zioneer reported earlier today (Sat 01:08 Jerusalem) that Caine was privately seeking an 'off-ramp' from the conflict. Subsequent reports, also published at 01:08, indicated that Caine had discussed the matter with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, warning that air power alone would not meet President Trump's objectives. The reports also noted that a planned large-scale strike on Iran was canceled last weekend under pressure from Arab states, with only CENTCOM and Israeli officials supporting it, and that Caine is advancing a move to end the war.
The latest report, attributed to CNN, does not specify which officials Caine directly addressed. The warning comes amid ongoing US-Iran hostilities and diplomatic efforts. As The Zioneer has reported, President Trump reviewed full-scale war options but decided against them for now, and the US military has prepared attack options as Trump weighs wider strikes. The current report suggests growing internal military reservations about the air campaign's effectiveness.
The CNN report, cited by i24NEWS, has not been independently confirmed by official sources. The extent of Caine's influence on the administration's Iran policy remains unclear.
8 developments
- StrongTrump: 'When they attack, we attack' — president says Iran war not renewing, any escalation will be faster
- StrongTrump warns Iran will be 'hit very hard' if it retreats again from nuclear talks
- StrongTrump: US has 'a lot of ammunition, many types,' warns of return to fighting if no Iran deal
- DevelopingTrump threatens 'all hell will rain down' on Iran if it obtains nuclear weapons
Source and signal
- Open-source intake