Trump reveals Israeli forces' presence in Iran after US strike
- Israeli forces were reported to have entered Iran's Fordow nuclear facility after a U.S. strike.
- Donald Trump claimed that these forces assessed the damage, asserting that Iran's nuclear program was significantly harmed.
- There remains uncertainty about the effectiveness of the strike, as leaked intelligence suggests that some components of Iran's nuclear infrastructure were not completely destroyed.
In the days following a U.S. airstrike on Iran's Fordow nuclear facility, significant developments emerged that highlight a cooperation between the U.S. and Israeli forces. The airstrike was reported to have caused extensive damage to the facility, a central component of Iran's uranium enrichment efforts. Donald Trump stated that Israeli commandos were on the ground in Iran, assessing the damage and monitoring the aftermath of the strike. This statement is significant, as it suggests unprecedented intelligence-sharing and operational collaboration between the two nations in addressing the nuclear threat posed by Iran. Trump's comments were made at the NATO summit in The Hague, where he claimed that the strike led to a total obliteration of Iran's nuclear program, while also hinting at ongoing Israeli intelligence operations in the area. Despite the president's assertive claims, leaked U.S. intelligence contradicted his assertions, stating that Iran's nuclear infrastructure was not entirely destroyed, and some enriched uranium may have been relocated prior to the airstrike. Israeli officials had varying responses to Trump's disclosures. Some denied knowledge of a specific Israeli operation targeting the Fordow site after the U.S. strike, while Israeli Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir confirmed that Israeli special forces had indeed been conducting operations in Iran. Zamir described these forces as having operated covertly in enemy territory, contributing to operational advantages for Israel during the conflict. The conflicting narratives surrounding the strike and the ensuing reactions highlight the complexities of international relations in the region, especially regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions. While Trump portrayed the airstrike as a success in neutralizing Iran’s long-term nuclear development, the allegations of top-secret intelligence leaking raise concerns about the potential implications for Israel and its operational security. The nature of coordination between the U.S. and Israel continues to shape the ongoing discourse about Iran's nuclear program and the broader strategic objectives of both nations in a volatile Middle Eastern landscape.