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.”
Man Who Set Out in 1998 to Walk the Entire Globe Finally Returns Home
US Hits Iranian Island with ‘Defensive’ Strike
AOC campaign memo frames growth from progressive firebrand to national Democratic Party force
Ex-Rep Justin Amash says Mike Rogers ‘would be more dangerous in the US Senate’ than Abdul El-Sayed
Alaska PAC accused of sending voter guide replacing Sen. Dan Sullivan with spoiler candidate
From foreign policy to afternoon naps: New book reveals how Churchill made JFK
Ken Paxton makes closing pitch to anxious Republicans — and even some opponents
Trump to end all military funding to Israel by end of the year: ‘They don’t need it’
Widespread ‘Ballot Scanning Issues’ Reported in Competitive New York House District
Widespread ‘Ballot Scanning Issues’ Reported in Competitive New York House District
Pundit predictions for 2026 elections: Who will win?
‘Should Have Killed You While I Had the Chance’ – Leftist Student’s Lightning Attack Sends Conservative Woman Flying
‘Should Have Killed You While I Had the Chance’ – Leftist Student’s Lightning Attack Sends Conservative Woman Flying
Talarico warms to Trump, says he wants to help fulfill some MAGA promises
Alaska voter ‘disgusted’ by reported ‘decoy Dan’ plot switches from Peltola to Sullivan
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
Man Who Set Out in 1998 to Walk the Entire Globe Finally Returns Home
US Hits Iranian Island with ‘Defensive’ Strike
AOC campaign memo frames growth from progressive firebrand to national Democratic Party force
Ex-Rep Justin Amash says Mike Rogers ‘would be more dangerous in the US Senate’ than Abdul El-Sayed
Alaska PAC accused of sending voter guide replacing Sen. Dan Sullivan with spoiler candidate
From foreign policy to afternoon naps: New book reveals how Churchill made JFK
Ken Paxton makes closing pitch to anxious Republicans — and even some opponents
Trump to end all military funding to Israel by end of the year: ‘They don’t need it’
Widespread ‘Ballot Scanning Issues’ Reported in Competitive New York House District
Widespread ‘Ballot Scanning Issues’ Reported in Competitive New York House District
Pundit predictions for 2026 elections: Who will win?
‘Should Have Killed You While I Had the Chance’ – Leftist Student’s Lightning Attack Sends Conservative Woman Flying
‘Should Have Killed You While I Had the Chance’ – Leftist Student’s Lightning Attack Sends Conservative Woman Flying
Talarico warms to Trump, says he wants to help fulfill some MAGA promises
Alaska voter ‘disgusted’ by reported ‘decoy Dan’ plot switches from Peltola to Sullivan
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.
