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Jun 17, 2026 Major2
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Netanyahu Rebukes IDF Chief of Staff Over Disclosure of Canceled Iran Strike
Prime Minister Netanyahu criticized IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir after Air Force Commander Omer Tishler released a letter revealing that a planned large-scale strike on Iran was canceled one hour before takeoff. Netanyahu called the disclosure a "national mistake" that harmed Israeli unity and embarrassed Israel before President Trump, who reportedly requested the cancellation of the operation.
Quick Facts
Who
Benjamin Netanyahu (Prime Minister)
What
Air Force Commander released letter disclosing canceled Iran strike
When
Tuesday (June 16-17, 2026)
Where
Israel
- Air Force Commander released letter disclosing canceled Iran strike
- Netanyahu reprimanded IDF Chief of Staff during Security Cabinet meeting
- Israeli strikes conducted against Hezbollah in Beirut's Dahieh district
- Iranian retaliatory attack with surface-to-surface missiles
- Initial Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and air defense systems
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reprimanded IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir during a Security Cabinet meeting on Tuesday after Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Omer Tishler released a letter disclosing details about a large-scale military operation against Iran that was canceled only one hour before scheduled takeoff. Netanyahu characterized the disclosure as "a national mistake" that harmed national unity and caused embarrassment with U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Tishler's letter to air force personnel, the planned strike followed an earlier Israeli operation in Beirut's Dahieh district, a Hezbollah stronghold, and a subsequent Iranian retaliatory attack involving dozens of surface-to-surface missiles. The letter stated that Israeli forces had struck Iranian targets within a few hours of the Iranian attack, significantly damaging the Iranian air defense system. However, a follow-up broad strike operation was halted at the last moment with extraordinary short notice, despite the entire air force being armed and ready for departure to strike hundreds of targets inside Iran.
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the strikes in Dahieh were conducted in response to Hezbollah fire directed at Israeli territory. The military operation targeted a Hezbollah command center used to plan terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon. The statement emphasized that "Israel will not tolerate fire directed at its territory."
According to Israeli officials, the decision to cancel the planned Iran operation came following a conversation between Netanyahu and Trump, with Trump reportedly requesting that Israel halt further attacks on Iran. A senior Israeli official stated that while the overall conversation between Netanyahu and Trump was constructive, Israel had proceeded twice contrary to the president's public position—in both the Beirut strike and the Iranian response. Another official confirmed that Israel had intended to strike Iran again on Thursday but canceled the operation after Trump pressed for it not to happen. This occurred amid reports of a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding calling for an immediate and permanent end to hostilities on all fronts, though the authenticity of the document has not been independently verified.
Why This Matters
This incident reveals significant tensions within Israel's military and political leadership over operational security and decision-making autonomy. The public disclosure of a canceled military operation—especially one involving Iran—raises concerns about civil-military relations and the impact of external diplomatic pressure (from the U.S.) on Israeli military strategy. For readers, this illustrates the delicate balance Israel must maintain between its security interests, domestic political unity, and international alliances, particularly with the U.S.