--- title: "US Central Command denies Israeli report that commander pushed for Iran strikes" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/us-central-command-denies-israeli-report-that-commander-pushed-for-iran-strikes" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-central-command-denies-israeli-report-that-commander-pushed-for-iran-strikes" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/us-central-command-denies-israeli-report-that-commander-pushed-for-iran-strikes.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-central-command-denies-israeli-report-that-commander-pushed-for-iran-strikes" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-08-16T01:05:22.314Z" source_reported: "2026-08-14T22:01:26.600Z" updated: "2026-08-16T01:05:22.314Z" trust_score: 62 critic_score: 58 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-16T02:15:12.765301+00:00" --- # US Central Command denies Israeli report that commander pushed for Iran strikes *Adm. Brad Cooper called Channel 13’s account of his remarks to Israeli officials an 'outright fabrication'* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 62 of 100, higher is better. Corroborated by multiple digests. - Craft 58 of 100, higher is better. Lacks direct quotes from key figures. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Sensational language in some headlines. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Israeli broadcaster Channel 13 reported that Adm. Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, proposed renewed strikes on Iran’s oil, gas and electricity facilities during a meeting with Israeli military leaders. - CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins denied the report, calling it 'an outright fabrication'. - The reported proposal followed earlier US and Israeli military operations targeting Iranian capabilities and stalled ceasefire talks. - All five right-rated outlets below carried the story; no left- or centre-rated outlet did. Israeli media reported on 13 August 2026 that Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, proposed renewed military strikes on Iran during a visit to Israel. Channel 13 said Cooper attended a meeting of the Israeli military’s senior operational forum, which included Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other commanders. The network reported that Cooper urged attacks on Iranian infrastructure, including oil, gas and electricity facilities, and argued that such strikes would change the strategic situation. CENTCOM denied the report the same day. Capt. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, told i24NEWS that the account was 'an outright fabrication. It’s not true at all.' The denial was not accompanied by a separate written statement. The reported proposal came amid heightened regional tensions and earlier US and Israeli military operations targeting Iranian capabilities. A Pakistan-brokered ceasefire agreed in April later stalled over disagreements on security guarantees and freedom of navigation. ## Where the reports disagree The reports disagree on whether Adm. Brad Cooper proposed renewed strikes on Iran. Channel 13, as reported by Anadolu Ajansı and VINnews, said Cooper presented the proposal during a meeting with Israeli military leaders and argued that such strikes would change the strategic situation. CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins, quoted by VINnews, called the report 'an outright fabrication'. ## What the coverage left out No left- or centre-rated outlet ran the story. None of the right-rated digests or reports mentioned the cost or feasibility of the proposed strikes, the status of the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire talks, or the 17 June agreement that launched negotiations toward a final deal. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 0% (0) - Right: 100% (6) 4 of 10 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-16T02:15:12.765301+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 9 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-16T03:15:12.728Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - All five right-rated digests and reports led on the proposal attributed to Adm. Brad Cooper. Anadolu Ajansı and VINnews, whose full reports are printed below, quoted Channel 13’s claim that Cooper urged strikes on Iranian oil, gas and electricity facilities and argued that 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.' - VINnews carried the CENTCOM denial in its full report, quoting Capt. Tim Hawkins calling the Israeli account 'an outright fabrication'. Anadolu Ajansı noted that there was 'no immediate comment from the US on the Israeli broadcaster’s claims.' The digests from Yeshiva World News, politika.rs and ussanews.com all led on the proposal, with Yeshiva World News and politika.rs framing it as a call for joint US-Israeli action. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 2 - high: 3 - unknown: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [ussanews.com](https://ussanews.com/2026/08/14/former-centcom-deputy-commander-asks-if-iran-is-amassing-assets-amid-slow-negotiations) — Former CENTCOM deputy commander asks if Iran is ‘AMASSING ASSETS’ amid slow negotiations - [VINnews](https://vinnews.com/2026/08/14/centcom-denies-report-that-commander-pushed-for-renewed-strikes-on-iran) — CENTCOM Denies Report That Commander Pushed for Renewed Strikes on Iran - [independentpress.cc](https://independentpress.cc/centcom-chief-pushes-for-renewed-strikes-on-irans-oil-gas-and-electricity-facilities-report/2026/08/14) — CENTCOM CHIEF PUSHES FOR RENEWED STRIKES ON IRAN’S OIL, GAS AND ELECTRICITY FACILITIES: REPORT - [arabtimesonline.com](https://arabtimesonline.com/news/centcom-chief-reportedly-urges-renewed-us-strikes-on-iran-infrastructure) — CENTCOM chief reportedly urges renewed US strikes on Iran infrastructure - [Anadolu Ajansı](https://aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-centcom-chief-pushing-for-renewed-strikes-on-iran-claims-israeli-media/4027052) — US CENTCOM chief pushing for renewed strikes on Iran, claims Israeli media - [Yeshiva World News](https://theyeshivaworld.com/news/israel-news/2585420/iran-strikes-centcom-chief-pushes-for-renewed-attacks-on-key-infrastructure.html) — IRAN STRIKES: CENTCOM Chief Pushes For Renewed Attacks On Key Infrastructure - [politika.rs](https://politika.rs/scc/clanak/778363/sef-centkom-a-pozvao-na-obnovu-udara-na-iran-zajedno-sa-izraelom) — CENTCOM Chief Calls for Renewed Strikes on Iran Alongside Israel - [primexbt.com](https://primexbt.com/news/centcom-commander-cooper-urges-renewed-iran-strikes-as-deal-odds-fall-to-25) — CENTCOM Commander Cooper Urges Renewed Iran Strikes as Deal Odds Fall to 25% - [Axadle | Wararka Africa](https://axadletimes.com/somalia/centcom-chief-urges-renewed-us-israeli-strikes-ira.html5) — CENTCOM chief urges renewed US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Israeli TV reports – Axadle - [ایران اینترنشنال](https://iranintl.com/en/202608130671) — CENTCOM chief urged renewed Iran strikes in meeting with Israeli officials - Channel 13 ## Questions **What did Adm. Brad Cooper reportedly propose?** Israeli media reported that Adm. Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, proposed renewed strikes on Iran’s oil, gas and electricity facilities during a meeting with Israeli military leaders. He was quoted arguing that such attacks would change the strategic situation and hurt Iran. The report was denied by CENTCOM as false. **Which outlets carried the story?** Five right-rated outlets carried the story: VINnews, Anadolu Ajansı, ussanews.com, Yeshiva World News and politika.rs. Three unrated outlets also ran digests. No left- or centre-rated outlet reported it, which is itself a finding of the coverage. **What happens next in the ceasefire talks?** A Pakistan-brokered ceasefire was agreed in April 2026, and a deal was signed on 17 June to launch negotiations toward a final agreement. The talks later stalled over disagreements on security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The status of the talks was not mentioned in any of the reports below. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/us-central-command-denies-israeli-report-that-commander-pushed-for-iran-strikes. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "US Central Command denies Israeli report that commander pushed for Iran strikes", https://mediabias.news/conflict/us-central-command-denies-israeli-report-that-commander-pushed-for-iran-strikes