'We had a clear US green light': Israeli officials claim Trump privately backed strike on Iran

Despite publicly voicing opposition, US President Donald Trump privately gave Israel the go-ahead for its military operation against Iran, according to a report, citing two senior Israeli officials.

“We had a clear US green light,” Axios quoted one of the officials as saying, claiming Trump’s public disapproval was a calculated move to mislead Tehran and prevent Iranian targets from relocating.

The Israeli operation that began overnight targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, missile infrastructure, senior scientists, and top military commanders.

According to an Axios report, citing Israeli officials, the attack is aimed at “eliminating” Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities and could last days or even weeks.

While Trump repeatedly warned, even hours before the assault, against a strike that could “blow up” ongoing nuclear negotiations, Israeli officials said this was part of a joint strategy to keep Iran off guard.

Behind the scenes, they claim, Trump coordinated with Netanyahu, with a Monday phone call that was publicly portrayed as a warning actually involving final operational discussions.

Netanyahu’s aides even briefed Israeli journalists that Trump was trying to restrain Israel, a claim now said to have been intentionally misleading, reported Axios.

The campaign followed eight months of covert planning triggered by Iran’s missile strike on Israel last October. Motivated by intelligence suggesting Iran was accelerating its nuclear weaponisation efforts, and the imminent launch of an underground enrichment facility immune to even US bunker-buster bombs, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered preparations for a broad strike, reported Axios, citing Israeli sources.

Opening salvos of the operation included the targeted killing of nuclear scientists, with 25 individuals reportedly on Israel’s hit list and at least two confirmed dead, and the assassination of top Iranian military leaders, including the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the chief of staff.

Iranian media has reported that Israeli strikes under ‘Operation Rising Lion’ killed at least 78 people and injured 329.

In addition to airstrikes, Mossad operatives have reportedly been deployed inside Iran to carry out sabotage missions on missile and air defence infrastructure, added the report.

The US has not confirmed Israel’s assertions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio quickly labeled the operation “unilateral,” denying any US involvement.

Trump later admitted he was aware of Israel’s intentions but reiterated that the US played no military role.

Still, questions remain about the extent of American intelligence, logistical, or cyber support for the Israeli strike.

With tensions now at a boiling point, Israel Defence Force (IDF) said that Iran has launched over 100 rockets at Israel in the past few hours.

“In the last few hours, Iran has launched more than 100 drones toward Israel, and all the defence systems are acting to intercept the threats,” Brig. Gen. Effie Deffrin, the chief army spokesman, said in a statement.

Iranian officials had vowed a strong response, explicitly warning that American forces are also within their sights.

Meanwhile, Iran on Friday announced  that it will no longer participate in scheduled nuclear negotiations with the United States.

The talks were set to take place in Oman on Sunday, but have now been suspended indefinitely, according to statements released by Iranian officials and confirmed by the Oman News Agency and Iranian state media.

The decision marks a sharp escalation in tensions and effectively halts a key diplomatic channel between Tehran and Washington.

With inputs from agencies