President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a large-scale airstrike against Iran just one day before it was set to be executed, reportedly without informing Israeli leaders in advance.
Israeli Channel 12 reported on August 2, citing senior defense and diplomatic officials, that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant learned of the cancellation through Trump's social media posts.
The U.S. and Israel began preparations for an attack on Iran following a summit at the White House on July 28. The U.S. Central Command had developed operational plans targeting Iran's energy infrastructure, including refineries and power plants, with Israeli forces expected to participate.
However, Trump withdrew the order approximately 24 hours before the planned operation. The Israeli leadership and military command experienced several hours of confusion due to the lack of prior notification.
One senior Israeli official stated, "President Trump left us in the dark," adding that even high-ranking generals were forced to assess the situation through his social media.
Initially, Israeli authorities considered the cancellation announcement as a potential deception tactic to lower Iran's alertness. They later confirmed with U.S. contacts that the operation had indeed been called off.
Another official remarked, "We maintained the highest level of alert while concentrating all resources in the operational area, but ultimately, nothing happened," expressing difficulty in understanding Trump's final intentions.
Trump cited the possibility of negotiations regarding Iran and Middle Eastern countries, as well as the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, as reasons for canceling the airstrike. However, Iran denied claims that it had reached an agreement with the U.S. regarding the strait's opening.
Israeli officials believe that the U.S. may resume airstrikes depending on the negotiation situation. The Israeli military is maintaining a high level of readiness in response.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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