Trump Ordered Plans for Iran Attack Amid Conflicting Statements

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his remarks about Iran potentially "erasing" California cities were misinterpreted, and he actually meant the public should accept higher fuel prices during wartime. Speaking at a rally in Nebraska, Trump had said that while war is costly, "they can erase a city. Let them erase Los Angeles, let them erase San Diego. It's a very small price to pay." He later clarified on social media that he was referring to a temporary rise in fuel prices as a small cost to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, contrasting it with the severe consequences of an Iranian attack on San Diego or Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that Trump had instructed the Pentagon to prepare plans for renewed military action against Iran, despite his public statements that hostilities would not resume before the November 3 midterm elections. The plans reportedly involve targeting Iran's drone and missile stockpiles, energy facilities, and other military sites. Security officials had previously proposed significant actions against Iran or its Houthi proxies in Yemen on five separate occasions, but Trump vetoed these proposals each time. However, the Times indicated that Trump is again considering a new attack plan discussed at Camp David last Friday, which envisions a "short, intense campaign lasting about three days."

Separately, former Major General Avi Gil, the Military Secretary to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on October 7, 2023, stated that Netanyahu did not speak with senior security officials during the first two hours of the Hamas attack. Gil reported that Netanyahu arrived at the Kirya in Tel Aviv between 8:30 and 8:45 AM on October 7 and did not request any security personnel be put on the line during the subsequent two hours. Gil also noted seeing two of Netanyahu's senior advisors, Yonatan Urikh and Eli Feldstein, who are accused of receiving funds from Qatar, with the Prime Minister at the Kirya in the early days of the war, despite them not having appropriate security clearance. Gil confirmed he personally ensured they did not access classified discussions. Gil also recalled unexplained interest in alleged Egyptian violations of the peace treaty by moving unauthorized forces into the Sinai Peninsula, though he could not confirm if this was part of a Qatari influence campaign.