Why US strikes on Hormuz suddenly stopped despite Trump's bluster

Top US military commander in Middle East advised halting Hormuz bombingAfter nearly two weeks of sustained attacks around the Strait of Hormuz and repeated warnings from President Donald Trump that military action could intensify, the US abruptly paused its bombing campaign on Friday. The decision, according to multiple reports, was driven less by diplomacy than by a reassessment inside the White House and Pentagon of what further strikes could realistically achieve.The turning point came after Adm Brad Cooper, commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), advised senior officials that the campaign had effectively accomplished its immediate objectives and had reached the limit of its usefulness, Axios reported. His assessment, shared with the Pentagon, the joint chiefs of staff and the Wh