Axios: Trump pauses strikes


2. đź‡®đź‡· Trump pauses strikes
 
Patriotic bunting in honor of America’s 250th is seen from President Trump’s motorcade at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va., yesterday. Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/APPresident Trump directed the U.S. military not to conduct new strikes in Iran on Friday, breaking a nearly two-week streak of daily attacks, Axios’ Barak Ravid reports.

Why it matters: It’s unclear if Trump’s order on Friday was a one-off or the start of a lull after 13 days of U.S. attacks.

Between the lines: Trump’s decision reflects that, short of a return to major combat operations, the current level of U.S. strikes has reached the limit of its effectiveness.

If Trump orders a return to strikes, the U.S. military can mobilize on relatively short notice.

The U.S. military is still preparing plans for a possible return to major combat operations, but Trump hasn’t ordered it to move in that direction, the sources said.

How it happened: Every afternoon for the past two weeks, Trump has approved strike plans submitted by the military. They were conducted within hours. On Friday, Trump received a similar plan but didn’t give a green light. Instead, he directed the military not to conduct strikes, the sources said.

Shortly after the Friday directive, Trump told reporters at the White House that he could continue or even escalate strikes, including “knocking out everything they have.

But he made clear that he thinks the “smarter strategy” is to “make a deal” with Iran. “We’re talking to [the Iranians] right now,” Trump said. “I think they’re getting more and more serious as the days go by. We’re locked and loaded and ready to go, but we’re talking to them.

That night, Trump said at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner that he doesn’t think Iran is ready to make a deal at the moment, “but I’m willing to listen.”

🇮🇱 Behind the scenes: The Israeli security cabinet and Israel Defense Forces expected another round of U.S. strikes Friday, and even prepared for a massive U.S. attack that could trigger retaliation against Israel, Israeli officials say.

The cabinet and military didn’t feel they had a full picture of what the U.S. would do, so they prepared for a major bombing offensive and remained on high alert.

On Friday night, the Israelis were notified that Trump did not approve more strikes.Share this story.
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About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
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