U.S. military plans strike against Iran before Trump calls it off
Posted June 21, 2019 6:03 am.
Last Updated June 21, 2019 7:07 am.
WASHINGTON (NEWS 1130) – It seems the American military was on the verge of striking Iran last night before President Donald Trump abruptly called off the operation.
U.S. jets had scrambled and ships were in position, according to a U.S. official, who told the Associated Press that the targets would have included radars and missile batteries.
The scrapped attack was planned retaliation for Iran’s downing of an American surveillance drone worth $100 million Thursday morning.
Trump confirmed he called off the strike at the last minute in a series of tweets Friday morning, saying the military had its sights on 3 different targets but he changed his mind after finding out how many people would die.
….On Monday they shot down an unmanned drone flying in International Waters. We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2019
….proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone. I am in no hurry, our Military is rebuilt, new, and ready to go, by far the best in the world. Sanctions are biting & more added last night. Iran can NEVER have Nuclear Weapons, not against the USA, and not against the WORLD!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2019
The revelation has prompted world leaders to call for cooler heads to prevail.
German Chancellor Angel Merkel told reports in Brussels on Friday that foreign police advisers for some European governments’ had met on the sidelines of a European Council meeting to discuss the tensions in the region.
“Naturally we are worried about the situation and we’re counting on diplomatic negotiations for a political solution to a very tense situation,” she said, adding European countries are still hoping that there can be a political solution to the tensions between the United States and Iran.
RELATED: Iran shoots down U.S. drone amid escalating tensions
Meanwhile, Indian officials say their navy has two warships to the Gulf of Oman amid the rising tensions.
A number of airlines have announced they’re re-routing their flights to avoid areas around the Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s downing of the U.S. drone, including Qantas, British Airways, K-L-M, Emirates, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning that commercial airliners could be mistakenly attacked.
– With files from the Associated Press
