Air Force Chief Says Trump Halted Israeli Strike on Iran Minutes Before Takeoff

Israeli Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Omer Tischler said a large-scale IDF airstrike deep inside Iran was canceled at the last minute after direct intervention by U.S. President Donald Trump. According to Tischler, pressure from Washington stopped the pilots while they were completing final preparations for takeoff, after the operation had already been fully planned the previous week and was ready to launch immediately.

In a letter to Air Force personnel, Tischler wrote that the entire force was ready for a broad strike package, with “hundreds of targets in the heart of Iran,” and that the attack was halted “while we were briefing squadrons, only an hour before departure.” He did not say when the operation was scheduled to take place, but made clear it had reached the final pre-flight stage.

Tischler also told subordinates that, despite the cancellation of this specific mission, the air arm had caused severe and lasting damage to Tehran’s strategic systems in earlier rounds of fighting. He said the force had struck Iran’s leadership, defense and offensive networks, nuclear components, the economy, the command and knowledge chain, and military and national industry.

He added that these actions had significantly reduced the threat, extended Iran’s recovery time, and preserved Israel’s ability to act again in Iran if needed. Tischler said the security establishment is closely watching international diplomatic developments, but said it is “too early” to know how global moves will affect the security situation.