Israel assassinating Iranian leadership while U.S. aims to destroy Iran's ballistic missile program, Gabbard says

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified before Congress that American and Israeli objectives for the war on Iran are fundamentally different.

Gabbard made this clear statement during the House intelligence committee's annual hearing on worldwide threats to the United States on Thursday.

Reuters

She revealed that while Israel has been focused on assassinating Iranian leadership, US President Donald Trump has concentrated on destroying Iran's ballistic missile programme and navy capabilities.

Gabbard explained that 'the objectives that have been laid out by the president are different from the objectives that have been laid out by the Israeli government.'

This revelation came during intense questioning about whether Iran posed an 'imminent' threat to justify the military action that began on February 28.

During her testimony, Gabbard provided specific details about Israel's objectives in the Iran conflict.

She explained that 'the Israeli government has been focused on disabling the Iranian leadership' through targeted assassinations.

TRT World

This focus became evident as the conflict neared the three-week mark, with Israel leading strikes that successfully killed Iranian clerics and military leaders.

The House hearing, which lasted 2-1/2 hours, allowed Gabbard to elaborate on these operational differences while being questioned by lawmakers.

She noted that US operations had been focused on 'sites related to the country's missile program' rather than leadership targets.

Gabbard's testimony also clarified the specific objectives outlined by President Trump for US military operations against Iran.

“By Patricia Zengerle and Erin Banco WASHINGTON, March 19 (Reuters) – American and Israeli objectives for the war on Iran are not the same, U”

WKZO

According to the Director of National Intelligence, Trump's objectives included destroying Iran's ballistic missile launching capability.

His objectives also included destroying Iran's ballistic missile production capability and their navy.

This represents a strategic approach focused on degrading Iran's military hardware rather than targeting its leadership.

This differentiation in strategy raises questions about the overall coordination and effectiveness of the joint military campaign.

A significant gap in coordination between US and Israeli objectives was highlighted when President Trump publicly stated that Washington 'knew nothing' about Israel's attack on Iran's South Pars gas field.

This attack subsequently drew an Iranian assault on energy infrastructure in Qatar.

Reuters

Trump then declared that Israel would not attack the field further unless Iran again attacked Qatar.

The public revelation created diplomatic complications and exposed the reality behind the supposed 'close coordination' that both nations had been highlighting.

When questioned about Israel's decision to strike energy infrastructure despite Trump calling those facilities off-limits, Gabbard admitted she did not have an answer.

During her testimony, Gabbard was repeatedly questioned about whether Iran had posed an 'imminent' threat to the United States.

“Tulsi Gabbard asserts US and Israeli objectives in Iran war are not aligned US spy chief says while Israel has been focused assassinating Iranian leadership, US is trying to destroy Iran's ballistic missiles launching and production capability, and Tehran's navy”

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She maintained that it was 'solely up to Trump to determine whether the United States faces an imminent threat.'

TRT World

This position came under scrutiny following the resignation of Joe Kent, who headed the National Counterterrorism Center.

Kent became the first senior official in Trump's administration to resign over the Iran War, stating that Iran posed no imminent threat to the U.S.

The intelligence community's assessment showed 'high confidence' that it knows where Iran keeps its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.