America's top Middle East commander has reportedly briefed President Donald Trump on attack options to resume the war in Iran.
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commander → brief → Iran
Admiral Brad Cooper made a rare in-person visit to the White House alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine, the Joint Chiefs Chairman, on Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported.
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Journal → make → Thursday
Trump is weighing up options to resume attacks on Iran.
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Trump → weigh → Iran
The meeting reportedly included cabinet members and covered considerations on continuing the US blockade in the region.
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meeting → include → region
The military officers also reportedly met with JD Vance at the White House on Wednesday.
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officers → meet → Wednesday
The president has repeatedly said that he is considering ordering new military action once the midterm elections on November 3 are over.
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elections → say → November
US officials have told several Middle East countries to be prepared for potential renewed military action against Iran after the midterms, as well as the possibility that Iran will attempt to retaliate against them.
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Iran → tell → them
The US told regional allies that the new round of military action could last for several days.
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round → tell → days
The allies have also been urged by US officials to take precautionary measures in anticipation that Iran’s response will include retaliatory strikes on energy facilities and other crucial infrastructure.
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response → urge → facilities
America's top Middle East commander reportedly briefed President Donald Trump on attack options to resume the war in Iran
Admiral Brad Cooper (center) made a rare in-person visit to the White House alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (left) and and General Dan Caine on Thursday
US officials have told several Middle East countries to be prepared for potential renewed military action against Iran after the midterms.
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officials → brief → midterms
Admiral Brad Cooper is pictured
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Cooper → picture → ?
The news of potential renewed strikes comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired the Pentagon's top military planner, Army Lt Gen Brett Sylvia.
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Hegseth → renew → planner
Sylvia was removed as head of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after he reportedly leaked classified information about the war in Iran and the war between Russia and Ukraine.
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he → remove → Russia
'Although Sylvia's title was director of the Directorate for Strategy, Plans and Policy at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, known inside the military as the J5, he was NOT a central planner for the Iran War,' a Defense Department official told One America News Network Chief National Security Correspondent Alexandra Ingersoll.
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official → know → Ingersoll
Typically, the J5 director and their staff are responsible for generating and coordinating military plans with both the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the president.
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director → generate → Chiefs
But the Pentagon official said Sylvia had become the subject of an investigation for leaking classified information, with authorities alleging he met with journalists outside of the building to get around the department's policy of having an escort with a journalist at all times.
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he → say → times
'Sylvia failed three polygraphs which questioned him about leaking classified information,' the Department of Defense official said, noting that the investigation into his alleged actions remains ongoing and has been referred to the Department of Justice 'for further action.'
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investigation → fail → action
However, the official said: 'the extent of [Sylvia's] leaking became so critical that Secretary Hegseth took immediate action and fired Sylvia in order to protect national security' adding that 'urgent action was needed and could not wait another second.'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired the Pentagon's top military planner as President Donald Trump weighs renewed strikes on Iran
Army Lt Gen Brett Sylvia was removed as head of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a senior official told the Associated Press
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official → say → Press
In a separate statement, a spokesperson for the Joint Staff said: 'The Chairman, the Joint Staff, and the Joint Force extend our deepest gratitude to Lt Gen Brett Sylvia and his family for their 32 years of distinguished service to our nation.
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Chairman → say → nation
'We wish him and his family the best as they graduate to new opportunities and the next chapters of their lives,' the spokesperson said.
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spokesperson → wish → lives
Before arriving at the Joint Staff, Sylvia served as the commander of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until May 2025, according to his official biography, which has now been taken offline.
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which → arrive → biography
He also previously served as the vice director for the J5.
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He → serve → J5
It remains unclear who may now replace Sylvia in his role, according to the Atlantic.
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who → remain → Atlantic
In the past, the deputy or vice director of the relevant directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff would fill the role on a temporary basis until the president nominated a candidate for Senate confirmation.
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president → fill → confirmation
But Sylvia is now the second general to be ousted from the post, known in military circles as the 'J5,' under Hegseth.
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Sylvia → oust → Hegseth
His predecessor, Lt Gen Joseph McGee, was forced to retire last October.
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predecessor → force → ?
He is also the latest in nearly two dozen generals, admirals and other military leaders to be fired, forced to retire or otherwise depart under Hegseth's tenure – almost all of which have not been publicly explained by the Pentagon.
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all → fire → Pentagon
That includes the civilian secretaries of the Army and Navy as well as some top uniformed officers for the military services.
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That → include → services
The Aporia
