Report: Israel asked US to join military campaign against Iran, but US rejects request

Defence affairs - report axios

Israel has urged the United States over the past two days to join its newly launched military campaign against Iran, but the US is currently not considering such a move, reports Axios, citing Israeli and American officials.

In the past 48 hours, Israel asked US President Donald Trump’s administration to join its attack against the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and military sites, two Israeli officials told the news site.

A US official confirmed Israel’s request and said the Trump administration is not currently considering joining the conflict, the report reads.

A US official confirmed Israel’s request and said the Trump administration is not currently considering joining the conflict, the report reads.

Israel seeks American assistance primarily to destroy Iran’s underground Fordo uranium enrichment site, which may be beyond Israel’s military capabilities to do alone, says the report.

A senior White House official told Axios today that “Whatever happens” with Israel’s strikes on Iran “cannot be prevented…But we have the ability to negotiate a successful peaceful resolution to this conflict if Iran is willing. The fastest way for Iran to accomplish peace is to give up its nuclear weapons program,” the report continues.

Axios reported earlier that Trump recently told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US would consider striking the Fordo site if such a move would become necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, citing Israeli officials.

The White House has officially denied that Trump is considering any US strike on Iran, stating that now is not the time to launch an attack.