U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee confirmed Saturday evening that Israel transferred 'very specific' intelligence to the United States regarding an Iranian plot to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to a report.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee on Saturday night explicitly confirmed that Israel provided "very specific" intelligence to Washington about an Iranian plot to assassinate President Donald Trump, in his latest statement on the matter. The confirmation, reported by several outlets, follows a series of remarks by Huckabee throughout the day in which he described the intelligence sharing as a tangible benefit of U.S. aid to Israel.
The confirmation is the latest in a sequence of reports that began on Friday, July 10, at 09:50 Jerusalem, when The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel had shared intelligence with the U.S. about an Iranian assassination plot against Trump. The report was later confirmed by CNN. Huckabee subsequently confirmed the warning in interviews, stating that the intelligence was "very specific" and that it led to security changes for Trump's return flight from the NATO summit in Ankara. At 23:03 Jerusalem on Saturday, Huckabee further emphasized that the intelligence sharing demonstrates the tangible benefits the U.S. gains from its aid to Israel, responding to those questioning the return on American investment.
Huckabee's statements come amid broader tensions between the U.S. and Iran. As The Zioneer reported on June 21, Huckabee said that Iran's ultimate goal is to destroy the United States, calling Israel merely "the appetizer." The intelligence sharing underscores the depth of the U.S.-Israel security partnership, with the ambassador framing it as a direct benefit of American support.
The confirmation contradicts earlier statements by President Trump, who had denied that Israel provided new information. The exact nature of the plot and the timeline of the intelligence remain unverified, though Israeli officials have not publicly commented.
11 developments
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- StrongNetanyahu backs Trump, warns Iran any attack on Israel would be a 'very serious mistake'
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