Former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that the 2020 assassination of Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani was initially planned as a joint U.S.-Israeli operation, but that Israel withdrew the day before the attack. In remarks circulating Saturday morning, Trump said the strike was still carried out successfully without Israeli participation, and that he consulted 'good generals' after being told by 'stupid' ones that the mission could not proceed without Israel.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his claim that the 2020 killing of Qasem Soleimani — the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force — was initially conceived as a joint U.S.-Israeli operation, with Israel withdrawing the day before the strike. In remarks circulating Saturday morning, Trump stated that Israel notified the U.S. a day prior that it would not participate, adding that he understood the decision because 'it was not so good for them.' Trump then said he turned to 'certain generals' — contrasting them with 'stupid' ones like Mark Milley — who told him the U.S. could carry out the strike alone 'just as good or even better.' The operation proceeded and Soleimani was killed by a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020. Trump's latest comments continue a pattern of downplaying Israel's role in regional operations. As The Zioneer reported on June 17, Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for decimating Iran's leadership while minimizing Israeli contributions. This account appears to be an expanded version of that narrative. The remarks are unverified by independent sources and originate from a single report circulating on Israeli Telegram channels.
- DevelopingTrump claims credit for decimating Iran's leadership, downplays Israeli role
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- DevelopingTrump says Israel should defend itself but act with 'good judgment'
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