Trump backs Israeli airstrikes on Iran, says ‘we tried to save them from death’

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that Washington had prior knowledge of Israel’s sweeping airstrikes on Iran, calling the operation “excellent” and “very successful,” even as fears of a broader regional conflict continue to rise.

In a phone interview with Reuters, Trump said the US was fully aware of Israel’s military plans before the strikes commenced. “We knew everything,” he stated.

“I tried to save Iran humiliation and death. I tried very hard because I would have loved to have seen a deal worked out.”

The Israeli air offensive — dubbed Operation Rising Lion — targeted critical Iranian nuclear sites including the Natanz enrichment facility, missile production centres, and elite military headquarters. It marked Israel’s largest aerial assault in decades and triggered an immediate missile barrage from Tehran that lit up skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Despite previously urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay action in favor of diplomacy, Trump threw his weight behind Israel’s move, affirming the deep strategic bond between the two nations.

“We’ve been very close to Israel. We’re their number one ally by far,” Trump said. “We support Israel. Period.”

Two senior US officials later confirmed that American military assets in the region assisted in intercepting Iranian projectiles aimed at Israeli targets, a move underscoring the depth of US-Israel coordination.

Pressed about the risks of regional escalation, Trump downplayed the threat, instead framing the strikes as a message of strength. “They can still work out a deal. It’s not too late,” he said, keeping the door open for future negotiations with Tehran.

As nuclear diplomacy teeters on collapse and world capitals urge restraint, Trump’s remarks mark a blunt endorsement of Israel’s actions while leaving Iran’s next steps—and the region’s fate — hanging in the balance.