An Israeli source told journalist Itai Blumenthal that Israel was prepared for a powerful US strike on Iran that was planned for the night between Friday and Saturday. The source said President Trump decided to postpone the deadline to give Tehran another opportunity for negotiations, and that Israel would have joined the strikes if Iran retaliated with missiles.
An Israeli source told journalist Itai Blumenthal that Israel was on standby for a powerful US strike on Iran planned for overnight Friday-Saturday, July 24-25. The source said President Trump decided to postpone the operation, seemingly to give Tehran another opportunity for negotiations. The source added that Israel had prepared to join the strikes if Iran retaliated with missiles — a detail not included in earlier reports.
The reporting on the aborted strike unfolded in stages earlier today. At 16:09 Jerusalem, Ynet journalist Itamar Eichner reported that Israeli assessments had predicted a US strike on Friday night, but it did not materialize. Around the same time, Israeli sources told The Zioneer that the defense establishment had prepared for the strike and that Trump postponed it to give Tehran more time. A subsequent report, also at 16:09, cited a specific Israeli source who confirmed the postponement and revealed Israel's readiness to join the strikes if Iran retaliated. The corroboration thus moved from an initial assessment to multiple source confirmations, with the latest report adding the precise contingency of Israeli involvement.
The aborted strike follows a series of diplomatic and military escalations reported by The Zioneer. On June 11, Trump canceled a planned round of strikes on Iran. On July 8, a US official informed Israel of powerful strikes planned for that night. On July 10, US officials stated that diplomacy was prioritized but preparations for further strikes continued. Israel has been on high alert for potential Iranian retaliation, with security assessments warning of multi-front threats, as The Zioneer reported on June 14. On June 15, Iran reportedly canceled planned missile fire on Israel after Trump offered concessions.
It remains unclear whether the postponement is temporary or signals a longer-term shift toward diplomatic resolution. The source's statement suggests that the window for military action was narrow and that Israel was prepared to be drawn into a broader conflict. The Zioneer will continue to monitor.
5 developments
- DevelopingTrump cancels tonight's strikes on Iran, Israeli analysts warn of risk
- StrongIsrael reportedly planned major airstrike on Iran, halted by Trump tweet
- DevelopingTrump Cancels Planned Iran Strikes as Geneva Agreement Framework Advances
- DevelopingUS struck Iran overnight, Tehran issued false claim of retaliation, analysis argues
Source and signal
- Open-source intake