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President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he “may” or “may not” pursue US military involvement in the Israel-Iran war as airstrikes between the two nations continued.
Early Thursday, Iranian missiles struck the largest hospital in southern Israel, causing extensive damage. The strike came after Israel struck Iran’s heavy water reactor in Arak.
“I may do it, I may not do it, I mean nobody knows what I’m going to do,” Trump had told reporters who asked if he would order US military involvement during a Flag Raising ceremony Wednesday. “Iran’s got a lot of trouble, and they want to negotiate.”
Trump said that Iran had reached out to negotiate, and that he had told them it was “late!”
“I said to the people, ‘Why didn’t you negotiate with me two weeks ago?’” Trump said. “It’s very sad to watch this. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Iranian officials denied having tried to negotiate with Trump, stating “Iran does NOT negotiate under duress.”
The President’s comments came hours after more than 50 Israeli fighter jets launched one of the most aggressive airstrikes of the conflict, targeting Iranian centrifuge facilities in Tehran. Iranian state media reports at least 240 dead since hostilities began, including civilians.
Iran quickly responded with dozens of missile and drone strikes under its campaign dubbed “Operation True Promise 3,” killing at least five Israeli civilians.
Amid the escalating violence, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly thanked Trump for his support in a video message to Israeli citizens June 18.
“I want to thank US President Donald Trump, a great friend of Israel. I thank him for being at our side and I thank him for the support the US gives us in defending Israel’s skies,” Netanyahu said. “We are in constant contact, including last night. We had a very warm conversation.”
In a separate video address, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei dismissed Trump’s call for surrender and warned of “irreparable consequences” if the US launches direct attacks.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Jerusalem remains closed through Friday, and emergency evacuations of American citizens are underway, according to a social media notice from US Ambassador Mike Huckabee.
“Urgent notice!” Huckabee wrote. “American citizens wanting to leave Israel- US Embassy in Israel @usembassyjlm is working on evacuation flights & cruise ship departures.”
As CatholicVote reported June 17, Trump previously declared “complete and total control of the skies over Iran,” before meeting with national security officials in the White House Situation Room.
Debate is also intensifying among Congressional leaders as lawmakers weigh possible US involvement.