US Military Chiefs Seek Iran Exit Strategy as Airstrikes Seen Falling Short

Senior US military officials are searching for an exit strategy in the conflict with Iran after concluding that military options are nearing their limits, CNN reported on August 7, citing multiple sources.

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, believes the current air campaign alone will struggle to achieve President Donald Trump’s stated objectives, according to the report. He has also raised concerns that stepping up the conflict could backfire.

Caine has shared those concerns with key administration officials, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, as they discussed possible exit strategies.

Trump has continued to oppose sending US ground troops into Iran. Instead, he has signaled that airstrikes alone could pressure Tehran into returning to the negotiating table. But aides see that outcome as unlikely and have focused on finding alternatives that fit within the parameters set by the president, CNN reported.

Shrinking US ammunition stockpiles have also influenced the exit-strategy discussions. The sources said senior military officials view munitions inventories as depleted to a “dangerously low” level, and Caine recently raised the issue in a meeting with Trump.

Caine and officials in the Middle East have also conveyed concerns to the US in recent days that shortages of key air-defense systems could hinder efforts to defend against Iranian attacks.

Shin Yong-hyun, Hankyung.com reporter, yonghyun@hankyung.com