Washington DC [US], July 27 (ANI): The commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Adm Brad Cooper, had recommended stopping the bombing campaign around the Strait of Hormuz, noting that it has reached the limit of its effectiveness, Axios reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter.

According to the report by Axios citing the sources, it mentioned that the recommendation by Adm Cooper comes along with several other advisers- civil and military- which impacted US President Donald Trump's decision on Friday to put a halt to the American military strikes against Iran.

It was an acknowledgement by both military and civilian advisers to the president that there are limits to what can be accomplished through military action, and specifically an air power campaign.

Meanwhile, it noted that the CENTCOM commander said a possible next step would be to resume major combat operations to finish the 20% of targets the U.S. military designated but didn't strike during Operation Epic Fury.

He, however, stressed that there was no point in continuing the bombing campaign of the previous two weeks, the sources said.

Sources also said that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, also cautioned Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and President Trump in private that a shortage of air defence interceptors could hamper the ability to protect U.S. forces and allies in the region.

His warning was first reported by the New York Times. However, a spokesman for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff declined to comment 'on confidential military advice the Chairman provides the President'.

As per Axios, the decision came after a meeting with top advisers and military officials who presented him with a new strike plan for the day. Citing sources it noted that prior to the meeting, Trump had been leaning toward returning to major combat operations, but his mindset started to change on Thursday evening.

Cooper noted that the designated bombing targets had been mostly exhausted.

The halt in strikes comes as Iran and Oman continue to hold discussions on the arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and the talks have progressed positively and entered into their second day now, CBS reported, citing two regional sources.