CENTCOM Solicits Creative and Unconventional Ideas from Troops to Pressure Iran as Bombing Campaign Stalls

A senior US Central Command intelligence officer emailed a broad group of military analysts on Wednesday requesting "new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran," according to CNN, citing sources familiar with the message 12. A second source told CNN a senior military officer had circulated the same request the prior week, and that CENTCOM is reevaluating its strategy and "looking at everything" 1. CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Timothy Hawkins did not deny the report, telling CNN the command "has a long history of thinking and working in innovative ways" and that Admiral Brad Cooper "reaches out to members of our great team, regardless of rank" 13. CNN also reported that two sources familiar with military planning described active preparations to strike Pickaxe Mountain and other suspected Iranian nuclear sites, though those sources said the facilities' depth may require ground forces to destroy them 12. CNN separately reported that the CIA and DIA have assessed the current bombing campaign is unlikely to shift Iran's negotiating position, that eighteen US service members have been killed in the conflict to date, and that Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine has publicly acknowledged "air power has its limits" amid contingency planning for a sustained campaign to degrade Iran's remaining missile capability and concerns over dwindling air-defense interceptor supplies 1.