WASHINGTON (AP) — For greater than per week, President Donald Trump stored the world questioning whether or not he would be part of Israel’s assaults on Iran in an try and decapitate the nation’s nuclear program. The guessing ended this weekend, when American stealth bombers, fighter jets and a submarine struck with bombs and missiles.
Trump’s choice marks one of many riskiest overseas coverage choices by a U.S. president in latest reminiscence, doubtlessly plunging the nation again into armed battle within the Center East with no clear endgame.
Like most of Trump’s presidency, the trail to navy motion was unconventional and performed out on social media, as he alternatively pledged diplomacy, demanded the evacuation of Tehran, threatened the ayatollah and in the end introduced the U.S. strike.
Right here’s a have a look at how the final 11 days unfolded, a cascade of occasions that might reshape a flamable nook of the globe. All dates under are in Jap time.
Wednesday, June 11
The primary signal that battle may very well be on the horizon got here when households of U.S. troops started leaving the Center East. “They’re being moved out as a result of it may very well be a harmful place, and we’ll see what occurs,” Trump mentioned as he arrived on the Kennedy Center for opening night time of “Les Misérables,” one among his favourite musicals.
It wasn’t clear whether or not Israel was getting ready to strike, fulfilling years of threats to assault Iran’s nuclear program, or if the actions had been a feint to extend stress for negotiations. The following spherical of talks between Washington and Tehran was simply days away, and Trump was adamant about reaching a diplomatic answer.
Behind the scenes, the Israeli navy operation was already taking form.
Thursday, June 12
Trump mentioned an assault by Israel “might very nicely occur.” However Iran nonetheless gave the impression to be taken without warning. Round 8 p.m. in Washington, explosions in Tehran killed prime navy leaders and scientists. A number of websites linked to Iran’s nuclear program had been additionally hit.
Israel mentioned 200 warplanes took half in the first wave of attacks. Extra injury was completed with drones that Israeli spies had smuggled into the nation, destroying air defenses and missile launchers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a “focused navy operation to roll again the Iranian risk to Israel’s very survival.” Though Iran has lengthy maintained that its nuclear program was for peaceable functions, Israeli leaders claimed it was an imminent risk.
Trump posted on social media that “we remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution,” however his tone would quickly change.
Friday, June 13
Iran retaliated towards Israel with missiles and drones, a lot of which had been shot down by air defenses. As Trump began his day in Washington, he appeared impressed by Israeli navy prowess and his tone turned extra aggressive towards Iran.
“The US makes the perfect and most deadly navy gear anyplace within the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a variety of it, with way more to come back – And so they know use it,” he wrote on social media.
However Trump urged that diplomacy was his first alternative, and urged Iran to make a deal. “Now they have, perhaps, a second chance” to get it completed, he mentioned.
Saturday, June 14
Trump talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin within the morning, they usually mentioned the battle between Israel and Iran. The following spherical of talks between the U.S. and Iran was canceled.
As Israel and Iran continued to commerce strikes, Trump attended a military parade in Washington. It was the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Military, in addition to his 79th birthday.
The muscular show of American navy would possibly — tanks, troops, paratroopers and a 21-gun salute — performed out within the nation’s capital because the potential for a brand new battle loomed.
Sunday, June 15
Trump spent the day speaking up his repute as a peacemaker, encouraging Iran and Israel to “make a deal” just like how he had brokered an finish to preventing between India and Pakistan.
“Many calls and conferences now going down,” Trump wrote on social media. “I do lots, and by no means get credit score for something, however that’s OK, the PEOPLE perceive. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!”
Iran’s well being ministry mentioned 224 folks had been killed by Israeli strikes at this level within the battle. Reviews additionally emerged that Trump had rejected an Israeli plan to kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. U.S. officers considered the thought as dangerously destabilizing.
Trump flew to Canada for the annual Group of Seven summit, which gathers the world’s strongest democracies. He wouldn’t be there lengthy.
Monday, June 16
Israel claimed it had achieved “aerial superiority” over Tehran, permitting its warplanes to function freely within the skies above Iran’s capital. One of many strikes hit Iran’s state-run tv, abruptly stopping a stay broadcast. Netanyahu mentioned Israeli strikes set again Iran’s nuclear program a “very, very very long time.”
Nonetheless, the extent of the injury was unclear, and U.S. and Israeli officers believed solely American planes with specifically designed “bunker buster” bombs had the potential to destroy nuclear websites buried deep underground.
After a single day on the G7 summit, the White Home abruptly introduced that Trump would leave early on a red-eye flight to Washington to fulfill along with his nationwide safety group.
Tuesday, June 17
Trump demanded Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” in a submit on social media and he informed reporters aboard Air Drive One which he needed “an actual finish” to the battle, not only a ceasefire.
He expressed frustration with Iranian leaders for failing to achieve an settlement. “They need to have completed the deal. I informed them, ‘Do the deal,’” he mentioned. “So I don’t know. I’m not an excessive amount of within the temper to barter.”
Trump additionally brushed off assessments from U.S. spy agencies that Iran hadn’t determined to construct a nuclear weapon. He insisted they had been “very shut.”
The solar had not but risen when Trump arrived on the White Home. He took half in a gathering within the Scenario Room, however didn’t seem publicly.
With little readability on subsequent steps, State Division spokeswoman Tammy Bruce informed reporters that “I’m right here to take questions, not essentially reply them.”
Wednesday, June 18
By this level, there was no query that Trump was contemplating becoming a member of Israel’s assaults on Iran. “I could do it, I could not do it,” he mentioned that morning. “No one is aware of what I’m going to do.”
The president spoke to reporters whereas overseeing the set up of a massive new flagpole on the South Garden of the White Home, toggling forwards and backwards between chatting up development staff in onerous hats and sizing up the Iranian nuclear risk.
Later, within the Oval Workplace, Trump once more urged that the U.S. would possibly get straight concerned to thwart Iran’s atomic ambitions. “I’m not trying to battle,” he mentioned. “But when it’s a alternative between preventing and having a nuclear weapon, it’s important to do what it’s important to do.”
On Capitol Hill, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth informed lawmakers the Pentagon was presenting Trump with military options.
Thursday, June 19
It was a federal vacation — Juneteenth — and far of Washington took the new, steamy time without work, however White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt scheduled a briefing nonetheless.
She entered the briefing room to ship a message from the president: He would decide within two weeks whether or not to turn out to be straight concerned in Israel’s conflict on Iran.
Trump has lengthy been recognized to toss out “two week” deadlines for actions that by no means materialize, so the assertion left folks guessing on his subsequent transfer.
Friday, June 20
Trump convened one other assembly of his nationwide safety advisers after which flew to his golf membership in New Jersey, the place he attended a political fundraiser within the night. He talked to reporters briefly en route, lengthy sufficient to say his director of nationwide intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, was “improper” when she beforehand mentioned that the U.S. believed Iran wasn’t constructing a nuclear weapon.
Saturday, June 21
Round midnight, the U.S. navy operation started in secret: B-2 stealth bombers taking off from a base in Missouri. They headed east, over the Atlantic Ocean, refueling from airborne tankers alongside the best way. It will take them 18 hours to achieve Iran. A decoy flight went west, towards the Pacific.
Trump returned to the White Home from New Jersey round 6 p.m. Lower than an hour later, American ordinance started exploding in Tehran.
Greater than two dozen Tomahawk missiles had been fired from a U.S. submarine. Fighter jets scanned for Iranian interceptors. The stealth bombers dropped 14 bunker buster bombs, marking the primary time that the 30,000-pound weapon had been utilized in fight.
Trump introduced the strikes on social media, saying it was a “very profitable assault and “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!” In a quick nationwide handle from the White Home, the president threatened to assault Iran once more if there was any retaliation.
“There’ll both be peace or there will likely be tragedy for Iran,” he mentioned.
