Trump says he “might have forced Israel’s hand” on Iran strikes

Former Biden administration officials, in a report by *The New Yorker*, described a pattern of Israeli military actions that repeatedly caught the U.S. off guard, including strikes on Hezbollah and Iranian targets, and expressed concern that Washington’s unwavering defense of Israel encouraged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to escalate conflicts. The report notes that after Donald Trump took office, the U.S. engaged Iran militarily twice. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the latest American strikes were launched because intelligence indicated Israel was about to attack Iran, which would have provoked retaliation against U.S. forces. In that context, Trump said he “might have forced Israel’s hand” regarding the strikes, an acknowledgment that his administration’s actions may have precipitated the confrontation, according to the report.