Trump Was Briefed In Advance On Israeli Strikes Against Iran

President Donald Trump confirmed Thursday that he was aware ahead of time that Israel was preparing to launch preemptive strikes against Iran, eliminating some of Tehran’s top military leaders and crippling its nuclear infrastructure.

Speaking with Fox News’ Bret Baier, Trump made clear that while the United States was not directly involved, there were no surprises. “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see. There are several people in leadership in Iran that will not be coming back,” Trump said.

• Israeli strikes eliminated IRGC Commander Hossein Salami, Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, and Emergency Command leader Gholam-Ali Rashid.

• Israel deployed approximately 200 fighter jets, destroying nuclear facilities, radars, and surface-to-air missile sites.

• Iran responded by launching 100 drones toward Israel, which Israeli forces moved swiftly to intercept.

Trump has spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu multiple times in recent days, maintaining close coordination with America's strongest Middle East ally. The Trump administration also quietly informed at least one key regional ally about the operation beforehand while emphasizing that the U.S. would not directly participate in the strikes.

Despite the overwhelming success of Israel’s military operation, Iran has threatened further escalation and has signaled its intention to pull out of any ongoing negotiations. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his team were originally scheduled to meet with Iranian counterparts in Oman on Sunday, though the likelihood of talks moving forward remains uncertain.

Trump stressed that while diplomacy remains his preferred path, American forces are prepared for any outcome. “We are watching for any retaliation,” the president stated, noting that U.S. Central Command is currently on high alert. In preparation for possible escalation, the U.S. has recently restocked Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system to ensure maximum readiness.

The president is expected to convene a National Security Council meeting later Friday morning to assess the rapidly developing situation.

Once again, while the Biden-era foreign policy disasters emboldened rogue regimes like Iran, President Trump and America’s allies are forced to clean up the mess, standing firm in defense of peace through strength. As Trump has made clear, Iran will never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons and the consequences for crossing that red line are now on full display.

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