Admiral Cooper's role in Red Sea operations and conflict with Iran

During the summer of 2024, Houthi rebels in Yemen intensified attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, forcing vessels to reroute around Africa. By August, two ships were sunk and several crew members were killed, while US and UK airstrikes failed to deter the militants. Brad Cooper, then a vice admiral and deputy chief of US Central Command (CENTCOM), personally deployed to the region to assess the threat firsthand, operating under lower-ranking officers to gain strategic insight. Cooper leveraged his experience as the former commander of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain to help design counter-Houthi strategies. Currently serving as a full admiral and head of CENTCOM, Cooper is overseeing the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. On February 27, he briefed President Donald Trump on military options at the White House. The following day, on February 28, President Trump authorized the start of a military operation as regional tensions continue to escalate.