President Donald Trump hinted at several potential exits from the joint U.S military strike with Israel on Iran over the weekend, stating in an interview with Axios that he could bring the conflict to a close in just a matter of days.
“I have the option to prolong the operation and take full control, or resolve it within two or three days and warn the Iranians that they will face consequences if they attempt to rebuild their nuclear and missile programs,” Trump explained. “Regardless, it will take them years to recover from this attack.”
The military operation, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury” by the defense department, sparked a mixed response from GOP members, with some criticizing the possibility of engaging in a foreign war without congressional approval.
Trump defended the strike by citing Iran’s alleged development of nuclear weapons and missile capabilities aimed at the U.S, hinting at the idea of regime change.
Despite the potential risks to U.S personnel in the region, Trump emphasized that the operation was necessary to safeguard American interests and prevent future threats from Iran.
The decision to launch the military strike was influenced by unsuccessful negotiations earlier in the week, as well as Iran’s history of aggressive military actions over the years, according to Trump.
While the U.S military is gearing up for a potential extended operation in Iran, Trump indicated to Axios that the timeline for a planned U.S-Israeli bombing campaign could be altered, depending on various factors, including the fate of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Reports from Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggested that Khamenei had been killed, although this information had not been officially confirmed as of Saturday afternoon.
