President Donald Trump told Fox News Channel's chief political anchor Bret Baier he was aware that Israel was going to conduct strikes on Iran before they happened.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see. There are several people in leadership that will not be coming back,” Trump said.
Trump has spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu several times in recent days.
The Trump administration reached out to at least one key Middle Eastern ally to acknowledge that the strike was going to happen, but that the U.S. was not involved in the strikes.
Trump is watching for any retaliation, and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is on high alert. He noted that the U.S. is ready to defend itself and Israel if Iran retaliates.
Trump said he hopes Iran returns to the negotiating table.
In recent weeks, the U.S. has replenished Iron Dome missiles, and U.S. officials have confirmed that a number of top Iranian leaders are dead after Israel’s airstrikes.
Israel attacks Iran
- Israel Defense Forces launched a sweeping strike on Iran following months of attempted, and seemingly failed, nuclear negotiations.
- Israel carried out strikes in Iran, adding that explosions were heard in the capital of Tehran.
- A state of emergency has been declared across Israel as the country braces for an Iranian response.
- Commander-in Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, was killed during Israel’s airstrikes on Iran.
- The strikes came after Israel first threatened to go after Iran’s nuclear facilities in early November following a series of back-and-forth missile attacks between April and October last year.
