International News Opinons

Trump Ordered, Then Canceled Air and Naval Strikes Against Iran

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.”


Obama Operative Turned Trump Voter Exposes the Anti-Working-Class Bigotry That Destroyed the Democrats
Fox News Stars Mourn the Brutal Murder of a Beloved ‘Fan Who Became a Friend’
El-Sayed ignites firestorm after sharing 9/11 message on social media: ‘Piece of s—‘
Fox News True Crime Newsletter: Lindsay Clancy jurors, Bryan Kohberger’s legal move, Menendez brothers hearing
Firefighter caught on camera ripping pro-Palestinian agitator in Elmo costume near Ground Zero on 9/11
EXCLUSIVE: Pence group knocks Vance plan to pay stay-at-home parents up to $9K per child
Clinton, Bush received multiple warnings on bin Laden hijack plots before 9/11, declassified files show
First use of Alien Terrorist Removal Court sends Afghan woman back after Election Day ISIS plot: DOJ
Nashville Airport Authority Votes Unanimously to Change Name to Honor Dolly Parton
Watch: Convention Crowd Symbolically Anoints JD Vance for 2028 with Chant
Inside Trump’s intimate meeting with nation’s bravest soldiers during whirlwind Texas trip
California woman chased, fatally shot by illegal immigrant DoorDash driver who stalked her for months: DHS
AOC, Mamdani interaction caught on cam at 9/11 memorial sparks online fury
Breaking: Newly Declassified 9/11 Documents Reveal the Repeated Warnings Received by Clinton and Bush
The ‘Jumper’ Victims of 9/11 Deserve to Have Their Stories Heard: And Yet They’ve Been Erased by the Media
See also  In pictures: Trump, Bush, and more pay their respects at 9/11 ceremonies across three sites on 25th anniversary

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:


Obama Operative Turned Trump Voter Exposes the Anti-Working-Class Bigotry That Destroyed the Democrats
Fox News Stars Mourn the Brutal Murder of a Beloved ‘Fan Who Became a Friend’
El-Sayed ignites firestorm after sharing 9/11 message on social media: ‘Piece of s—‘
Fox News True Crime Newsletter: Lindsay Clancy jurors, Bryan Kohberger’s legal move, Menendez brothers hearing
Firefighter caught on camera ripping pro-Palestinian agitator in Elmo costume near Ground Zero on 9/11
EXCLUSIVE: Pence group knocks Vance plan to pay stay-at-home parents up to $9K per child
Clinton, Bush received multiple warnings on bin Laden hijack plots before 9/11, declassified files show
First use of Alien Terrorist Removal Court sends Afghan woman back after Election Day ISIS plot: DOJ
Nashville Airport Authority Votes Unanimously to Change Name to Honor Dolly Parton
Watch: Convention Crowd Symbolically Anoints JD Vance for 2028 with Chant
Inside Trump’s intimate meeting with nation’s bravest soldiers during whirlwind Texas trip
California woman chased, fatally shot by illegal immigrant DoorDash driver who stalked her for months: DHS
AOC, Mamdani interaction caught on cam at 9/11 memorial sparks online fury
Breaking: Newly Declassified 9/11 Documents Reveal the Repeated Warnings Received by Clinton and Bush
The ‘Jumper’ Victims of 9/11 Deserve to Have Their Stories Heard: And Yet They’ve Been Erased by the Media
See also  Sept. 11 in photos: Washington Examiner photographer Graeme Jennings shares his images from the aftermath of 9/11

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.

Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter