CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper delivered a stunning accusation against Iran during testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, stating that Tehran has deliberately targeted civilians in the Middle East at least 1,000 times. Cooper described a pattern of attacks stretching across multiple countries, arguing that Iran’s military and proxy operations have repeatedly endangered innocent civilians while destabilizing the region through calculated acts of aggression.

During the hearing, Cooper pointed to incidents involving strikes on restaurants in Bahrain, residential neighborhoods in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, along with the reported use of cluster munitions over Tel Aviv. The CENTCOM commander contrasted Iran’s conduct with American military operations, emphasizing that U.S. forces follow strict procedures designed to minimize civilian casualties while Iran intentionally uses fear and indiscriminate violence as strategic tools.

The testimony intensified growing pressure on the international community to confront Iran’s regional activities as tensions across the Middle East remain dangerously high. Supporters of President Donald Trump and strong U.S.-Israel cooperation argued that Cooper’s remarks further validate long-standing warnings about Tehran’s behavior, reinforcing calls for continued military readiness, tougher sanctions, and unwavering support for Israel against Iranian-backed threats.