WSJ Reveals Israeli Intelligence Warned of Iranian Plot to Target Trump with Shoulder-Fired Missiles

The Wall Street Journal report identifies Israel as the specific source of the intelligence that led U.S. authorities to implement a rare and complex deception maneuver to protect the President. While previous accounts of the incident alluded to "Western intelligence," the latest details confirm that Jerusalem provided the actionable data regarding an imminent threat from the Iranian regime. The plot reportedly involved the intended use of Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS), or shoulder-fired missiles, to target the presidential aircraft during its ascent from Ankara.

The Ankara Extraction

The security operation, which took place following the NATO summit in July, involved a tactical extraction designed to mislead observers and potential attackers. According to the report, President Trump publicly boarded the older Boeing 747 model of Air Force One in full view of cameras and journalists. However, once inside, he was secretly moved through the aircraft's rear and transferred into an airport catering truck that had been elevated to the door.

The truck transported the President to a nearby U.S. military C-32A aircraft, which departed for the United Kingdom under high security. Meanwhile, the primary 747 took off as a decoy, continuing to use the "Air Force One" callsign with the White House press corps and several staff members still on board. Journalists on the decoy flight were reportedly instructed to keep window shades closed—a highly unusual request—unaware that the President was no longer on the plane. Both aircraft eventually landed at RAF Mildenhall in Britain within minutes of each other.

Intelligence Cooperation and Regional Threats

This disclosure underscores the depth of the intelligence-sharing relationship between Jerusalem and Washington, particularly as both nations navigate a period of heightened friction with Tehran. As The Zioneer reported earlier, the plot is believed to be linked to specialized units within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), such as Unit 4000 and Unit 840, which maintain operational footprints in Turkey. The specificity of the Israeli warning allowed the Secret Service to bypass standard protocols in favor of this high-risk extraction.

The incident highlights the persistent nature of the Iranian threat against senior U.S. officials. Despite ongoing diplomatic maneuvers and the "negotiating under fire" doctrine previously tracked by The Zioneer, the IRGC appears committed to lethal operations. While Turkish intelligence has reportedly expressed some skepticism regarding the plot, the implementation of such an elaborate decoy operation by U.S. security forces suggests the Israeli intelligence was viewed as highly credible and urgent. Following the stop in Britain, the President returned to Washington on a newer aircraft provided by Qatar.