US Central Command requests additional intelligence officers as Pentagon prepares for prolonged Iran conflict.
Politico: CENTCOM Requests More Intelligence Officers
Politico reports that the Trump administration was not fully prepared for a broader war with Iran. According to their investigation, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has asked the Pentagon to send more military intelligence officers to its headquarters in Tampa, Florida, to support operations for “at least 100 days.” However, it is considered likely that the operation will not conclude until September.
This is the first known request from the administration for additional intelligence personnel specifically for Iran-related operations. Politico notes this also signals that the Pentagon is already allocating resources for operations that could last significantly longer than the initial four weeks of conflict mentioned by President Donald Trump.
Timeline Disputes and Military Movements
It is worth noting that the US president made various statements regarding the duration of operations, saying at times that the war was “ahead of schedule” and later that he could conduct it “without end.” A source also revealed that the Pentagon is currently trying to deploy more air defense systems to the region, particularly smaller and cheaper ones for drone defense.
CNN: Trump’s Circle Wants Accelerated Timeline in Iran
On the same day, CNN reported that Trump’s supporters are calling on the administration to present a specific plan for US withdrawal from the Middle East, fearing the war could disrupt Republican election strategy. Some advisors and close allies are even pressing Trump to accelerate the timeline and declare victory as quickly as possible. However, the White House has not presented plans regarding this war.
Trump’s Assessment and Iranian Response
Trump himself stated on Wednesday that military actions against Iran are proceeding very well, and the United States is in a “very favorable position.” He rated the US position as “15 out of 10.” On the morning of February 28, Israel and the US began attacks on Iran. In response, Tehran attacked Israel and several Persian Gulf nations, striking both US military bases and civilian facilities. According to the latest data from Iran’s state news agency Tasnim, the number of casualties has risen to 1,230. It was not specified whether this number includes only civilians or also military personnel.
