Trump Revives Claim Israel Backed Out of Soleimani Strike, as He Defends New Iran Deal
Trump revives controversial claim that Israel withdrew from joint Soleimani strike plans in 2020 as he defends new U.S.-Iran memorandum. Former officials push back, calling the operation unilateral and risky.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday sharply criticized Israel for questioning his newly signed memorandum of understanding with Iran, arguing that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government lacks credibility on the issue because it allegedly withdrew from a planned joint U.S.-Israel operation to kill Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
Speaking after the G7 summit in France, Trump said Israel was “all set” for the strike but informed him the night before that it would not participate. “They’ve been wonderful to me, Israel, but they didn’t want to do that attack,” Trump stated. He proceeded with the U.S.-only drone strike near Baghdad on January 3, 2020.
Trump framed the episode as evidence that Israel should not now criticize his administration’s efforts to de-escalate tensions with Iran through the new agreement, which includes a ceasefire, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and negotiations on nuclear issues. Israel has voiced strong opposition to the deal, viewing it as insufficiently restrictive on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and regional proxies.
Former U.S. Officials Push Back on Trump’s Account
Trump’s characterization has drawn rebuttals from former U.S. officials familiar with the 2020 planning, who say it misrepresents Israel’s role. According to reporting from 2023 that resurfaced amid the latest comments, multiple officials stated that Israel was never fully committed to participating in the operation and viewed the idea as too risky and destabilizing.
“They were never on board with it,” one former senior White House official told NBC News. “They always thought it was a dangerous and destabilizing idea.”
The officials emphasized that the Soleimani strike was a unilateral U.S. operation involving only American forces. While intelligence sharing between the U.S. and Israel on Iranian threats has long been close, there was no joint military commitment that Israel abruptly abandoned, they said. Trump has repeated the claim in interviews and public remarks dating back to 2023, often using it to express frustration with Netanyahu.
Broader Context of U.S.-Israel Tensions
The remarks come amid heightened friction between the Trump administration and Netanyahu’s government. Trump has separately scolded Israel over recent strikes in Lebanon, warning that they risk undermining the Iran agreement, and has pushed for quicker resolution of conflicts to stabilize the region.
Israeli officials have pushed back on the new U.S.-Iran memorandum, with some describing it as a “catastrophic capitulation” that fails to address core threats from Iran.
The White House has defended the deal as a pragmatic step to prevent further escalation and a nuclear-armed Iran, while stressing that compliance will determine future sanctions relief or military options.
Trump’s revival of the Soleimani story highlights the transactional nature of his “America First” approach to alliances, even with longstanding partners like Israel.