The New York Times reported Thursday evening that President Donald Trump ordered air and naval strikes against Iranian targets in response to the shooting down of a U.S. Navy drone earlier that day, but canceled them “abruptly.”
The Times reported:
President Trump approved military strikes against Iran in retaliation for downing an American surveillance drone, but pulled back from launching them on Thursday night after a day of escalating tensions.
…
The operation was underway in its early stages when it was called off, a senior administration official said. Planes were in the air and ships were in position, but no missiles had been fired when word came to stand down, the official said.
…
It was not clear whether Mr. Trump simply changed his mind on the strikes or whether the administration altered course because of logistics or strategy. It was also not clear whether the attacks might still go forward.
The Times added a curious detail: “No government officials asked The New York Times to withhold the article.”
Video shows NYPD tackling man who allegedly threw ‘ignited device’ near NYC mayor’s home during protest clash
Trump says US, Israel shattered Iranian military capabilities, presses leaders to surrender: ‘Cry uncle’
Armed Officers Rushed Onboard Flight Forced to Land with Guns Drawn After ‘Security Scare’
Flashback: 11 Years Ago Marco Rubio Correctly Predicted How Obama’s Iran Move Would Backfire
Iran still striking Gulf States despite president’s promise not to: Report
Trump tells Starmer aircraft carriers no longer needed in Mideast, accuses him of joining war US ‘already won’
Arizona governor vetoes Charlie Kirk memorial license plate sparking GOP outrage: ‘This bill falls short’
NYC Mayor Mamdani’s wife liked social media post calling Oct 7 sexual violence investigation a ‘hoax’: report
Noem thanks Trump for new Shield of the Americas special envoy role after DHS ouster
Trump and first lady attend dignified transfer for 6 US troops killed in Kuwait
Supreme Court Will Hear Lawsuit Over Blaming Oil Companies for Climate Change
White House’s bombastic Iran war media blitz breaks from precedent, shocking critics
Farage slams British prime minister for ‘extraordinary’ lack of support for Trump’s Iran strikes
‘Smarter Than Most of You!’: Biden Launches Bizarre Defense of His Stuttering at Jesse Jackson Memorial Service
Brutal Numbers: Schools Spent $30 Billion on Laptops… and They Seem to Have Made Kids Dumber
Trump’s critics accused him of “cold feet.” But the fact that the administration did not try to stop the story also suggests it could have been leaked deliberately. Indeed, at least one other reporter claimed he had received similar information:
.@nytimes scooping me again. I was sitting on this information for six hours. Can confirm this reporting. https://t.co/SLgwuKeAO4
— Jim LaPorta (@JimLaPorta) June 21, 2019
Video shows NYPD tackling man who allegedly threw ‘ignited device’ near NYC mayor’s home during protest clash
Trump says US, Israel shattered Iranian military capabilities, presses leaders to surrender: ‘Cry uncle’
Armed Officers Rushed Onboard Flight Forced to Land with Guns Drawn After ‘Security Scare’
Flashback: 11 Years Ago Marco Rubio Correctly Predicted How Obama’s Iran Move Would Backfire
Iran still striking Gulf States despite president’s promise not to: Report
Trump tells Starmer aircraft carriers no longer needed in Mideast, accuses him of joining war US ‘already won’
Arizona governor vetoes Charlie Kirk memorial license plate sparking GOP outrage: ‘This bill falls short’
NYC Mayor Mamdani’s wife liked social media post calling Oct 7 sexual violence investigation a ‘hoax’: report
Noem thanks Trump for new Shield of the Americas special envoy role after DHS ouster
Trump and first lady attend dignified transfer for 6 US troops killed in Kuwait
Supreme Court Will Hear Lawsuit Over Blaming Oil Companies for Climate Change
White House’s bombastic Iran war media blitz breaks from precedent, shocking critics
Farage slams British prime minister for ‘extraordinary’ lack of support for Trump’s Iran strikes
‘Smarter Than Most of You!’: Biden Launches Bizarre Defense of His Stuttering at Jesse Jackson Memorial Service
Brutal Numbers: Schools Spent $30 Billion on Laptops… and They Seem to Have Made Kids Dumber
Trump tweeted Thursday morning that “Iran made a very big mistake!”, but later suggested that the “mistake” may have simply been an accident. In the double meaning of the word “mistake,” he preserved both the threat of retaliation and the possibility of a diplomatic solution.
Regardless, Iran will know how close it was to being attacked, and still is.
Story cited here.
