In a significant military operation, the Israeli Air Force successfully neutralized multiple Iranian air defense systems at the request of the Trump administration, just 48 hours before a pivotal U.S. strike on Iran's Fordow nuclear facility. This information was reported by three U.S. and Israeli officials to Axios, underscoring the importance of the collaboration between the two nations.
This operation marked a historic moment in U.S.-Israeli relations, representing the apex of months of intense coordination regarding Tehran's nuclear program. The partnership between the two countries reached its zenith in the final hours leading up to the military strike, with Israel playing a crucial role in facilitating the U.S. military operation. In a nationwide address following the strikes, President Trump expressed his gratitude to Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, stating, "We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we've gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel."
According to Israeli officials, Trump's request for Israeli assistance was made directly to Netanyahu the previous week. The U.S. president had decided to move forward with a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities unless an unexpected diplomatic opportunity arose. Netanyahu's response was direct: "How can we help?" Trump then articulated his request for the Israeli Air Force to eliminate as many Iranian air defense systems as possible in southern Iran, aiming to clear a path for the incoming U.S. B-2 stealth bombers.
Following Trump's directive, the U.S. provided Israel with a list of specific air defense systems that needed to be neutralized prior to the strike. An Israeli official confirmed that, just prior to the U.S. operation, Netanyahu and Israel's Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, held a crucial call with U.S. Vice President Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to further coordinate their efforts. The Israeli officials were informed during this call that the U.S. was moving forward with the operation.
In the 48 hours leading up to the U.S. military action, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted several targeted strikes aimed at degrading Iranian defenses. These operations, focused in southern Iran, were meticulously planned to minimize risks to the U.S. B-2 bombers en route to the Fordow facility, which was targeted with 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs.
Despite the collaborative efforts, an Israeli official emphasized that they did not pressure the U.S. to join the conflict, indicating a careful approach to avoid the impression of dragging the U.S. into war. "Luckily for us, God hardened Pharaoh's heart — Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei acted like an idiot and refused any proposal from the U.S.," the official remarked.
As the B-2 bombers returned to the U.S. following the successful strike, President Trump reached out to Netanyahu to share details about the operation. Trump communicated that with Iran's nuclear facilities now destroyed, his next priority was to negotiate a deal with Tehran to establish peace. A U.S. official confirmed that the president is not interested in continuing strikes against Iran unless provoked. "He’s ready to do it if the Iranians retaliate against U.S. forces," the official stated, "but he told Netanyahu that he wants peace."
An Israeli official corroborated Trump's message, highlighting the uncertainty of Iran's potential response and how it could influence future actions. "We still don't know how the Iranians are going to respond — and that could change everything," the official noted. The Americans have communicated their desire to conclude this round of military actions, indicating they are open to Israeli strikes but prefer to avoid further U.S. involvement.
