Share FacebookTwitterWhatsAppPinterestLinkedinCopy URLTelegramEmailTumblrReddItPrintKoo Washington, Jan 19 : Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged US President Donald Trump last week not to carry out a strike on Iran, arguing that Israel is not fully prepared to withstand Tehran’s retaliation, according to The Washington Post, citing an unnamed source close to the White House. A US official said a major consideration was the lack of a substantial American military presence in the region, which Israel had relied on to help intercept Iran’s ballistic missiles during the 12-day war in June. The report adds that Trump’s senior advisers believed a strike was imminent as of midweek, but tensions eased after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a text message to Trump’s Middle East adviser, Steve Witkoff, which “helped defuse the situation.” According to the publication, Netanyahu told Trump that Israel was not prepared to defend itself against a possible retaliatory strike from Iran, especially since the US did not have sufficient forces in the region to help Israel intercept Iranian missiles and drones.
