Air Force Chief Says Trump Stopped a Planned Strike on Hundreds of Iranian Targets

Israeli Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Omer Tischler said on Tuesday that a major strike planned for Iran last week was halted at the last moment after intervention by President Donald Trump. According to a report on Kan 11, Tischler wrote to air force personnel that the force had been ready to launch a broad attack, with “hundreds of targets in the heart of Iran” prepared for strike only hours after receiving the launch order. He said the operation was stopped while crews were still briefing in squadrons, just an hour before takeoff.

In his letter, Tischler said it is still too early to know how global developments will affect the security situation. He said the air force had already inflicted heavy damage on Iran’s leadership, air defense and offensive systems, nuclear components, the economy, the command-and-knowledge chain, and the military and national industries, while significantly reducing the threat and extending Iran’s recovery time. He added that Israel must preserve the ability to operate in Iran again if needed.

Tischler also reviewed recent combat activity, saying that after a strike in Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district, Israel came under dozens of Iranian surface-to-surface missiles last week. He said Israel’s air defense intercepted all relevant threats and there were no casualties in Israel, calling it unmatched anywhere in the world and the result of the air defense crews’ experience and professionalism.

He said the air force then launched an attack from 1,500 kilometers away, hitting dozens of targets in Iran within hours and damaging Iranian air defenses and other regime assets. He added that the force has continued to operate alongside ground troops in Lebanon and with Northern Command, and noted that this week marks one year since Operation “With All Might,” which he said gave the air force its first air superiority over Tehran.