Israeli Officials Criticize Trump Over Abrupt Cancellation of Iran Strike Plan

Israeli security officials sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump after he announced early Sunday morning the cancellation of a planned large-scale strike against Iran. According to a security source cited by Kan 11, this is the second time in a week that the U.S. informed Israel of a potential strike that could destabilize the Middle East, only to cancel it at the last moment without explanation. Thousands of Israeli Defense Forces personnel and security officials had prepared over several weeks for a regional escalation, only to be caught off guard.

An Israeli source told Kan News that it is difficult to plan seriously with Trump's unpredictable behavior. Senior Israeli political figures described the last 24 hours as "walking in the dark," noting that even top officials, including the Prime Minister and Defense Minister, learned of the developments through Trump's social media posts rather than official channels. Following Trump's tweet about canceling the strike, Israeli authorities conducted urgent assessments to determine if it was a deception or a genuine change in U.S. intentions. About an hour later, officials lowered the alert level.

Israeli leaders expressed frustration over the sudden shift, emphasizing that lowering readiness after mobilizing resources takes time and that they do not understand Trump's endgame. Despite the surprise, Israeli officials believe Trump may still change course soon, especially since Iran has not shown any signs of moderation. Jerusalem officials expect continued threats between Washington and Tehran in the coming weeks.

The Israeli military primarily prepared for missile defense amid fears of Iranian retaliation. There is concern that Iran perceives Trump as reluctant to resume large-scale conflict and that Gulf states have more influence over the U.S. president than Israel. An Iranian diplomat told the Wall Street Journal that the Revolutionary Guards are considering preemptive strikes if diplomatic talks fail, though it remains unclear if Tehran will accept mediator proposals.

Trump announced the strike cancellation citing requests from Iran and other Middle Eastern countries, stating on his social media platform Truth Social that the U.S. was ready to strike Iran with unprecedented force but agreed to halt for the sake of global future and Iran's survival if a deal could be reached soon. He added that Israel had joined him in this commitment and urged all parties to work toward an agreement immediately.