Topline
Israeli air defenses are receiving support from American pilots, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday, revealing one of the most specific details of U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict as President Donald Trump will decide whether to strike or negotiate with Iran within the next two weeks.
Smokes raises from a building of the Soroka hospital complex in Be’er Sheva, Israel after it was hit … More
Timeline
Netanyahu told Israeli news outlet Kan that Israel will strike “all” of Iran’s nuclear facilities and said it can carry out the attacks without help from the U.S., according to The New York Times, though the Israeli prime minister noted the U.S. is helping with air defense, saying, “American pilots are intercepting drones alongside our pilots.”
It was widely reported prior to Netanyahu’s comment the U.S. was supporting Israel in a defensive capacity, providing support through American air defense systems and naval destroyers as far back as October, when Iran launched ballistic missiles against Israel, though this was the most specific information so far released.
Leavitt provided a statement on behalf of Trump to reporters, saying there is a “substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran” soon and the president will make his decision “on whether or not to go within the next two weeks.”
Leavitt also said Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, is still in contact with Iranian officials.
Iran issued a warning to any “third party” involvement in its conflict with Israel, seemingly referencing the U.S. without directly mentioning it and threatening an “immediate response,” according to CNN.
Tom Barrack, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria, warned the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah against joining the Israel-Iran conflict.
Hezbollah has criticized Israel’s strikes on Iran and on Thursday it warned that the assassination threats against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “are foolish and reckless, and will have disastrous consequences.”
Barrack, who is on an official visit to Beirut, addressed the militant group’s threat, saying: “I can say on behalf of President Trump, which he has been very clear in expressing as has Special Envoy Witkoff: that would be a very, very, very bad decision.”
Iranian state media claimed the main target of the missile attack which damaged a hospital in southern Israel was the “vast command and intelligence base” of the Israeli military’s C4i tech and communications unit and “the campus of their military intelligence, located in the Gav-Yam technology park.”
The hospital which was struck appears to be located less than two miles away from the Gav-Yam technology park.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said he and Netanyahu have ordered the country’s military to “intensify strikes against strategic targets” in Iran after the latest wave of missile attacks.
Katz accused the Iranian Supreme Leader of committing the “gravest of war crimes” and said “The cowardly Iranian dictator sits in the depths of the fortified bunker and fires aimed shots at hospitals and residential buildings in Israel.”
The Soroka Medical Center, a hospital in the southern Israeli city of Be’er Sheva was struck by an Iranian missile which caused “extensive damage” but no serious injuries, according to authorities in Israel.
The strike was the first time a hospital in Israel was struck by an Iranian missile since the conflict between the two countries began last week.
Overall 65 people were injured across Israel in the latest barrage of missile strikes launched by Iran.
The State Department is conducting the evacuations of nonessential diplomats, the Associated Press reported, noting diplomats were authorized to leave at the government’s expense Wednesday (Forbes has reached out to the State Department for comment).
Some embassy personnel were evacuated from Israel via U.S. military aircraft, according to CNN, which reported earlier Wednesday a full evacuation of the embassy was not ordered and diplomats and family members were not required to leave.
The Iranian Mission to the U.N. said “no Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House,” in a post on X responding to Trump’s claim made minutes earlier that Iran had contacted his administration, writing “the only thing more despicable than his lies is his cowardly threat to ‘take out’ Iran’s Supreme Leader.”
Trump said “You don’t seriously think I’m going to answer that question . . . I may do it, I may not do it, I mean nobody knows what I’m going to do,” when asked by a reporter at an unrelated White House event if the U.S. is moving closer to striking Iranian nuclear facilities.
Trump said the Iranians have reached out to him and he told them “it’s very late to be talking . . . there’s a big difference between now and a week ago,” referring to Iran’s refusal to accept a deal with the U.S. to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon sooner.
In subsequent comments, Trump said “we’re not looking for a long-term war . . . I only want one thing: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” while also elaborating on what he meant when he called for “unconditional surrender” a day earlier: “That means I’ve had it . . . I give up, no more. Then we go blow up all the nuclear stuff that’s all over the place there.”
According to a statement delivered via Iranian state media, the Supreme Leader said his country “stands firm against an imposed war, just as it will stand firm against an imposed peace,” adding that Iran will “not surrender to anyone in the face of imposition,” warning any U.S. involvement in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict will undoubtedly lead to “serious irreparable harm.”
The Iranian leader also addressed President Trump’s comments on Tuesday calling for Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” saying those who know his country’s history “know that Iranians do not answer well to the language of threats.”
Aerial attacks from both sides continued early on Wednesday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office claimed Iran has launched more than 400 missiles and hundreds of drones since Friday.
White House officials told multiple outlets Trump spoke with Netanyahu on Tuesday after a meeting with national security advisors, though the details of the conversation have not been publicly reported.
Unnamed U.S. officials cited by Axios said Trump was seriously considering entering the conflict by launching strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Trump warned on Truth Social earlier Tuesday: “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” referring to Khamenei, who is increasingly isolated after Israel assassinated several of his top generals, adding Khamenei is “safe” and “we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,” but said “our patience is wearing thin.”
Key Background
Tensions between Iran and Israel first erupted on Friday, when the Israel military carried out unilateral strikes against key nuclear facilities and killed several top Iranian generals and nuclear scientists. Netanyahu claimed Israel’s attack was an act of self defense as the Iranian nuclear program posed “a danger to Israel’s very survival.” On Monday, Trump exited the G7 summit earlier than scheduled and flew back from Canada to Washington as tensions between Iran and Israel escalated, with the White House press secretary saying he left early “because of what’s going on in the Middle East.” Shortly before leaving the summit, Trump issued an ominous warning to residents of Tehran, Iran’s capital, on Truth Social: “Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON…Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” At the time, Trump did not specify why he called for an evacuation of the city of 10 million people, but when asked later, Trump said: “I want people to be safe…That’s always possible something could happen. I just want people to be safe.” The president spoke to reporters on board Air Force One on his return to Washington and said he wanted something better than a ceasefire “An end. A real end, not a ceasefire, an end,” and signaled that a only complete “give up” by Iran would be acceptable.
What Has Trump Said About Striking Iran?
In a earlier post Trump, said: “We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran…Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn’t compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured stuff. Nobody does it better than the good ol’ USA.” In a third post Tuesday morning, Trump called for an “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” Trump has also warned Iran against targeting U.S. personnel or assets, saying if that happens “we’ll come down so hard, it’d be gloves off…I think they know not to touch our troops.”
Is Trump Pushing For An Iran-Israel Cease Fire?
On Monday, Trump told reporters onboard Air Force One on the way back to the U.S. from the summit in Canada he wanted to see an end to Iran’s nuclear program and said he’s “not too much in the mood to negotiate now.” Trump attacked French President Emmanuel Macron on Truth Social, describing him as “publicity seeking” after he said Trump was flying out of the G7 summit early to work out a cease fire between Israel and Iran and “then kick-start broader discussions.” Trump said Macron “has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire,” and claimed it was something “Much bigger than that.” Trump departed the G7 Summit early and returned to Washington on Monday night to “attend to many important matters,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
What Else Do We Know About Trump’s Early Exit From The G7 Summit?
Shortly before he left Canada, the president told reporters Iran “want to make a deal, and as soon as I leave here, we’re going to be doing something. But I have to leave here.” Fox News reported on Monday evening that Trump had asked his national security to be present in the Situation Room when he returns to the White House.
What Was Mentioned In The G7 Leaders’ Statement?
A U.S. official told reporters earlier on Monday Trump would not sign a draft statement of G7 leaders, which included a call for de-escalating the Israel-Iran conflict. The president eventually agreed to sign it after some changes were made to the statement’s “initial draft language,” according to the New York Times. The final statement notes: “We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East.” The statement affirms Israel’s “right to defend itself,” describes Iran as the “principal source of regional instability and terror,” and notes “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.” It also calls for a resolution of the ongoing crisis and “a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a cease fire in Gaza.”
What Has Iran Said About Potential Talks With The U.s.?
In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signaled he was open to talks resuming talks with the U.S. if Israel’s strikes on Iran were halted. “If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential. Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue. It takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like Netanyahu. That may pave the way for a return to diplomacy,” he wrote. The post also attacked Netanyahu, calling him a “war criminal.”
Further Reading
Lawmakers Make Bipartisan Push To Restrict Trump From Going To War With Iran (Forbes)
Iranian Missiles Cause ‘Minor Damage’ To US Embassy In Tel Aviv—Israel Targets Elite Quds Force HQ (Forbes)
Israel Attacks Iranian State TV During Live Broadcast (Forbes)
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