Washington (TDI): US President Donald Trump has confirmed he was informed in advance about Israel’s airstrikes on Iran, telling Fox News that while the United States was not directly involved in the military action, it was prepared to defend both itself and Israel if Iran retaliates.
The comments come in the wake of a dramatic escalation in Middle East tensions, as Israel launched a wide-ranging aerial attack on Iran early Friday, targeting over 100 locations, including nuclear facilities and military sites.
Among the reported targets was the nuclear complex in Natanz, a sensitive location long at the center of Iran’s nuclear program.
Iranian state media reported that two top military leaders Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami and armed forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri were killed in the strikes, though these reports remain unconfirmed by independent sources.
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Speaking in an interview aired on Fox News, Trump said: “I was made aware of the Israeli operation before it happened. Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, we’ve made that very clear. But we’re also hoping diplomacy returns to the table. We’ll see.”
Moreover, Trump’s administration had reportedly alerted at least one key Middle Eastern ally ahead of the Israeli operation. However, it reiterated that the US was not involved in Israeli attacks.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US was not involved in attacks against Iran and Washington’s top priority is protecting US forces in the region.
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He added a firm warning to Tehran: “Iran should not mistake restraint for weakness. Any attack on US interests or forces will be met with a decisive response.”
The latest developments have added fuel to already simmering tensions in the region, and President Trump is expected to attend a National Security Council meeting on Friday morning to assess the situation further.
