📍 IDF Confirms Severe Nuclear Damage:
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officially stated that Iran’s nuclear program has sustained “profound” damage. Ongoing assessments are underway to determine the full extent of the destruction.
📍 Israel Cleared the Sky for U.S. Bombers:
Prior to the U.S. B-2 airstrikes, Israeli forces conducted targeted strikes that destroyed multiple Iranian air defense systems. These attacks were carried out specifically at the request of the Trump administration.
📍 Strategic Goal: Air Superiority for B-2s:
The coordinated Israeli-U.S. effort aimed to disable Iran’s surface-to-air missile defenses, ensuring the B-2 bombers could penetrate Iranian airspace undetected and carry out their deep-strike mission.
📍 Trump’s Position on Escalation:
According to Axios, President Trump told U.S. officials he does not want to continue military operations against Iran unless American forces are attacked in retaliation. He emphasized to Netanyahu that peace is the preferred outcome.
📍 Israel’s Diplomatic Position:
An Israeli official told Axios that Israel intentionally avoided pressuring the U.S. to join the war. However, he blamed Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei for rejecting U.S. diplomatic offers, saying his refusal effectively triggered the current escalation.
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In a carefully coordinated operation, Israeli forces dismantled Iran’s air defenses to prepare the ground for U.S. B-2 stealth bombers targeting nuclear sites. While the military cooperation was tight, both the Trump administration and Israeli officials claim they sought to avoid full-scale war. President Trump is reportedly holding back further strikes unless Iran retaliates directly against U.S. forces, signaling a volatile but still controllable escalation threshold.
