U.S. almost strikes Iran: How did we get here?
US President Donald Trump ordered U.S. Military strikes against Iran n Thursday, and then ordered them halted – What could this mean?
US President Donald Trump ordered a US military strike against several targets in Iran on early Friday morning, The New York Times reported, and then changed his mind.
Yet, with the attack on the US drone, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were ecstatic to claim responsibility and explained that the drone, tracked from the southern part of the Persian Gulf, was carrying out an “espionage” mission when it entered Iran’s “territory.” The drone was a US-made BAMS-D, a Broad Area Maritime Surveillance UAV. Leading up to this attack, Iran and the US repeatedly announced that neither party was interested in war. “[US President Donald] Trump does not want war with Iran. We will continue to communicate that message while doing the things that are necessary to protect American interests in the region," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted on Wednesday. Just the day before President Hassan Rouhani echoed Pompeo's sentiment, saying that Iran did not want to go to war with any country. "Iran will not wage war against any nation," Rouhani said in a speech that was broadcast live on state TV. "Those facing us are a group of politicians with little experience." But the US has warned Tehran about using “unrelenting force” if it or its allies are attacked, which is why Iran was quick to explain that the drone entered its airspace. Fear of the continued escalation with Iran has led the US to increase the number of troops in the Middle East, Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Monday, when he announced the additional 1,000 that would be deployed.
"The recent Iranian attacks validate the reliable, credible intelligence we have received on hostile behavior by Iranian forces and their proxy groups that threaten United States personnel and interests across the region," Shanahan said in a statement.