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.”
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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
‘He should go’: Senate Dems turned on Swalwell ahead of resignation announcement
Thom Tillis slams Trump’s proposal to impose tolls on ships in Strait of Hormuz
Florida doctor charged after allegedly removing wrong organ during surgery
Ukraine has no ‘unrealistic expectations’ for Hungary as it pitches itself as ally to Magyar
Spanberger’s ‘unconstitutional’ push to redefine presidential elections makes voters ‘NULL AND VOID’: critics
Eric Swalwell scandal hangs over ‘best friend’ Ruben Gallego’s 2028 hopes
Watch: Pelosi and Fellow Dems Scramble to Defend Themselves from Fallout of Swalwell’s Implosion
Breaking: Woman Steps Forward with Darkest Accusations Yet Against Swalwell
Illegal immigrant driver charged with DUI after car veers off road, kills two children on bikes: police
House Dems unveil bill to examine removing Trump using 25th Amendment
Socialist Mamdani touts government-run grocery plan as ‘grand experiment’’ at grocery new site
Blasphemous California Tech Company Offers Paid Video Calls with AI ‘Jesus’ Avatar
San Francisco Put in Subway Turnstiles That Can’t Be Jumped – Maintenance Dropped 96 Percent
Appeals court shuts down Boasberg contempt inquiry into Trump administration over El Salvador deportations
Kash Patel taunts Swalwell with FBI sit-down as resignation fallout grows
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.
