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.”
Interior Department plans AI Theodore Roosevelt exhibit for America250
New motion seeks former Colorado Clerk Tina Peters’ release, challenging state after Trump’s pardon
Indicted Democrat edits $109,000 ring allegedly bought with stolen FEMA funds from photo
Times Square ball goes red, white and blue for America’s 250th birthday
Trump weapons package to Taiwan sparks flurry of Chinese sanctions
Definition of Insanity: Repeat Offender Reportedly Tied to 3 Separate Shootings Was Freed After SWAT Standoff
Op-Ed: I’ll Believe it When I See it – How Liberal Santa Scams the Nation
CNN’s Dana Bash Forced to Admit Trump’s Border Policy Is ‘Story of Accomplishment’
Minnesota Senate candidate wears hijab in visit to Somali market as fraud scandal unfolds
As UK Locks Up Citizens for Speech, Jimmy Kimmel Shares Christmas Message with Them About Trump’s So-Called ‘Fascism’
Brown, MIT shootings may have stemmed from suspect’s failures, fixation on scientist’s success: report
Most radical courses, curriculum that received federal funding in 2025
Trump Sends Room Into Roaring Laughter Responding to Kid Who Didn’t Want Coal for Christmas
Booker says Gabbard ‘endangering’ NJ with remarks on radical Islam, heavily-Muslim city; deputy responds
Kentucky congressman announces death of longtime aide and campaign manager
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
Interior Department plans AI Theodore Roosevelt exhibit for America250
New motion seeks former Colorado Clerk Tina Peters’ release, challenging state after Trump’s pardon
Indicted Democrat edits $109,000 ring allegedly bought with stolen FEMA funds from photo
Times Square ball goes red, white and blue for America’s 250th birthday
Trump weapons package to Taiwan sparks flurry of Chinese sanctions
Definition of Insanity: Repeat Offender Reportedly Tied to 3 Separate Shootings Was Freed After SWAT Standoff
Op-Ed: I’ll Believe it When I See it – How Liberal Santa Scams the Nation
CNN’s Dana Bash Forced to Admit Trump’s Border Policy Is ‘Story of Accomplishment’
Minnesota Senate candidate wears hijab in visit to Somali market as fraud scandal unfolds
As UK Locks Up Citizens for Speech, Jimmy Kimmel Shares Christmas Message with Them About Trump’s So-Called ‘Fascism’
Brown, MIT shootings may have stemmed from suspect’s failures, fixation on scientist’s success: report
Most radical courses, curriculum that received federal funding in 2025
Trump Sends Room Into Roaring Laughter Responding to Kid Who Didn’t Want Coal for Christmas
Booker says Gabbard ‘endangering’ NJ with remarks on radical Islam, heavily-Muslim city; deputy responds
Kentucky congressman announces death of longtime aide and campaign manager
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.
