Trump aware of Israel strikes on Iran beforehand, says there were no surprises
President Donald Trump advised Fox News Channel's chief political anchor Bret Baier on Thursday he was aware that Israel was going to conduct preemptive 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 in Iran that will not be coming back Trump revealed Israeli strikes on Iran killed three of the country s top military commanders including Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps IRGC Hossein Salami Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Hossein Bagheri and Commander of Iran s Emergency Command Gholam-Ali Rashid Trump has spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu several times in up-to-date days ISRAEL LAUNCHES SWEEPING STRIKE ON IRAN WHILE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SEEKS DIPLOMATIC SOLUTIONThe Trump administration reached out to at least one key Middle Eastern ally to acknowledge that the strike was going to happen but reported that the U S was not involved in the strikes The president commented he hopes Iran returns to the negotiating table though Iran has signaled its intention to pull out of further talks U S Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his club had been scheduled to meet with their Iranian counterparts in Oman on Sunday Israeli forces used around fighter jets to strike targets in Iran destroying dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers as well as nuclear facilities Iran launched around retaliatory drones toward Israel hours later which Israeli forces announced they were working to intercept Trump disclosed he 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 In current weeks the U S has replenished Iron Dome missiles The president is expected to attend a National Assurance Council meeting later Friday morning Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this review
