CENTCOM head: Iran war prevented another Oct. 7

The Pentagon argues military action has weakened Tehran’s ability to arm allied terror organizations.

By World Israel News Staff

Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), told the House Armed Services Committee that the U.S. war against Iran had significantly weakened Tehran’s proxy groups and reduced the likelihood of another Oct. 7-style massacre in southern Israel.

“Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis have been cut off from the decades-long flow of military supplies, thus mitigating and eliminating any chance of a future Oct. 7,” Cooper said during testimony on Tuesday.

“Iran spent decades and billions of dollars arming proxies. Today, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis are cut off from Iran’s weapons supply and support,” he continued. “Said a different way, American military action derailed Iran’s strategy that was 47 years in the making.”

Cooper said Operation Epic Fury was designed to dismantle what he described as Iran’s “three pillars of intimidation and coercion” — its nuclear program, ballistic missiles and drones, and regional proxy groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.

While Iran has long denied involvement in the Oct. 7 attacks carried out by Hamas, many analysts have argued that Tehran’s financial and military support for the terror group played a key role in enabling the assault.

The Hezbollah terror group, which is backed by Iran, has also repeatedly attacked Israeli civilian and military targets along the northern border since the start of the war.

During the hearing, Rep. Adam Smith questioned Cooper about an airstrike on the Minab Girls’ School in the early days of the conflict that reportedly killed 168 students.

Critics of the war have frequently cited the bombing while calling for an end to the conflict and greater scrutiny of military operations in Iran.

Cooper acknowledged concerns surrounding the strike but noted that “the school itself is located on an active IRGC cruise missile base, so it’s more complex than the average strike.”

He added that the incident remains under investigation.

“As soon as we’re complete, I’m fully committed to transparency, given your important oversight role and the other members here,” Cooper said.