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.”
Hormuz choke point persists as Iran halts oil traffic despite Trump ceasefire
DoorDash data offers snapshot of economy voters are feeling ahead of midterms
Putin issues a decree calling for a ceasefire in fighting for Orthodox Easter holiday
Artemis II nears end of historic mission with splashdown off California coast
Trump blasts Biden admin for releasing illegal immigrant now charged in fatal hammer attack on Florida mother
Iran peace talks give JD Vance an opening in 2028 race
Mahmoud Khalil loses appeal to dismiss deportation case
Coast Guard seizes over 4,500 pounds of cocaine worth $34M from suspected narco-terrorist vessel on Easter
ICE says more criminal migrants arrested on 1-year anniversary of program to support victims of migrant crime
Supreme Court blocks candidate after alleged GOP infiltration scheme exposed
Child among 4 dead as accused arsonist allegedly drank beer during chaos
Neighbor fatally shoots alleged gunman after 2 women shot in domestic dispute
Melania Trump’s forceful Epstein denial draws bipartisan support from lawmakers
Fellow Democrats Are Now Calling Out Eric Swalwell Over ‘Very Troubling’ Accusations
Michael Moore Defends Iran, Slams US for Bombing Japan in WWII in Deranged Rant: ‘We’re the Bad Guys!’
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
Hormuz choke point persists as Iran halts oil traffic despite Trump ceasefire
DoorDash data offers snapshot of economy voters are feeling ahead of midterms
Putin issues a decree calling for a ceasefire in fighting for Orthodox Easter holiday
Artemis II nears end of historic mission with splashdown off California coast
Trump blasts Biden admin for releasing illegal immigrant now charged in fatal hammer attack on Florida mother
Iran peace talks give JD Vance an opening in 2028 race
Mahmoud Khalil loses appeal to dismiss deportation case
Coast Guard seizes over 4,500 pounds of cocaine worth $34M from suspected narco-terrorist vessel on Easter
ICE says more criminal migrants arrested on 1-year anniversary of program to support victims of migrant crime
Supreme Court blocks candidate after alleged GOP infiltration scheme exposed
Child among 4 dead as accused arsonist allegedly drank beer during chaos
Neighbor fatally shoots alleged gunman after 2 women shot in domestic dispute
Melania Trump’s forceful Epstein denial draws bipartisan support from lawmakers
Fellow Democrats Are Now Calling Out Eric Swalwell Over ‘Very Troubling’ Accusations
Michael Moore Defends Iran, Slams US for Bombing Japan in WWII in Deranged Rant: ‘We’re the Bad Guys!’
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.
