Top US General Urges De-escalation with Iran Amidst Attack Risks

Washington: General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US military, has reportedly advised some senior advisors to President Donald Trump that the United States should find a way to de-escalate and end the war with Iran. This was reported by Xinhua News Agency and CNN. According to CNN, citing sources familiar with the matter, General Caine is concerned that escalating military operations could backfire on the United States, and that air strikes alone may not be sufficient to achieve President Trump's goals. President Trump has previously shown reluctance to send ground troops into Iran, hoping that air strikes would pressure Tehran to agree to negotiations on US terms. However, some sources within the US administration believe that such an outcome is unlikely. Meanwhile, Pentagon data shows that 18 US soldiers have been killed and 687 wounded in the conflict with Iran. Several opinion polls also indicate a rise in dissatisfaction among the American public regarding the war. A Washington Post poll shows that 68% of Americans believe the war is not worth continuing to fight, while a Reuters poll indicates that only about one in three people support the war.