🌐 U.S.-ISRAEL COORDINATION AND IRANIAN ATTACK ON U.S. FORCES
🕑 Published: July 30, 2026 · 10:45 PM Israel time
🤝 WASHINGTON AND JERUSALEM ALIGN ON IRAN: President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed during their White House meeting that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon, while acknowledging possible differences over timing and methods. Sources said Washington believes Israel is moving faster than the United States would prefer.
An Israeli source described the talks as a “major moment of coordination” and rejected reports that Netanyahu presented new intelligence concerning activity at Iran’s underground Pickaxe Mountain site. Washington was already familiar with the intelligence and operational picture, and Netanyahu had no new material to present.
Trump said the United States was closely monitoring the site and would strike it if negotiations failed. “We took out their nuclear sites, and we'll have to take out Pickaxe if we don't make a deal,” he said.
Israeli sources said Trump did not pressure Israel or demand a withdrawal from any front. Netanyahu’s broader support for “the freedom of the Iranian people from this regime” was already known, but the meeting focused on the nuclear issue.
Netanyahu said: “It was one of the best conversations I've had with the President of the United States.”
The meeting did not include a private one-on-one session despite one originally being planned. Netanyahu was also in Washington to attend the memorial service for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. Israel separately intercepted a drone that it said had been launched by an Iran-backed militia.
🚀 IRAN TARGETS U.S. FORCES IN JORDAN: CENTCOM said IRGC forces launched multiple ballistic missiles in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. personnel stationed at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. All of the missiles were intercepted, although debris reportedly fell in the surrounding area.
Trump said U.S. forces had only minutes to respond and pledged a direct retaliation. “We will hit Iran hard tonight,” he said. “They nevertheless took a shot, so it's our turn.”
✈️ U.S. FORCE MOVEMENTS SIGNAL BROADER PREPARATIONS: U.S. Air Force aerial refueling aircraft departed Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, while additional tankers operated over the Gulf of Oman and departed from Tel Aviv.
Israeli officials assessed that Iran would be highly likely to retaliate against Israel if the United States used Israeli territory during an attack. A senior official said Israel would respond to any Iranian strike and estimated that Iran possesses approximately 1,500 ballistic missiles.
The official said Iran had moved centrifuges to Pickaxe Mountain, but Israel had no indication that uranium enrichment was taking place there. i24NEWS reported that the U.S. preparations appeared consistent with planning for a large-scale operation rather than a limited response.
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