At Donald Trump‘s request, the Israel Air Force (IAF) took out multiple air defense systems in the 48 hours leading up to the strike on Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility, one of the three sites targeted under Operation Midnight Hammer on Sunday.Also Read | ‘An act of strength’ : Netanyahu backs Trump’s strikes on Iranian nuclear sites; says ‘it will change history’This is according to a report in US website Axios. The report also detailed how the partnership between two allies “peaked” in the final hours before the strikes.Trump dials NetanyahuAs per the report, Trump’s request was made directly to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, after the former decided he would move forward with the mission unless a surprise diplomatic opportunity emerged.“‘How can we help?’ Netanyahu asked,” the website quoted Israeli officials as saying.The US leader told the Israeli premier to direct the IAF to eliminate as many air defense systems as possible in southern Iran – to clear the way for the incoming B-2 Spirit bombers of the United States Air Force.America also gave Israel a list of air defense systems to be eliminated ahead of the strikes.Vance, Hegseth hold call with Netanyahu, Israel’s minister of defenseOn Thursday, US vice president JD Vance and defense secretary Pete Hegseth held a call with Netanyahu and his defense minister, Israel Katz. “They (Vance and Hegseth) made it clear they were moving forward with the operation. The air force then conducted several strikes in the area to degrade Iranian defenses,” an Israeli official said.The IAF attacks, concentrated in southern Iran, were designed to minimize the risk to the B-2 bombers en route to Fordow – a deeply buried nuclear facility targeted with 30,000-pound “bunker-buster bombs.”Trump briefs NetanyahuShortly after the B2s began their return to the US, Trump called Netanyahu and briefed him on the mission.“Trump told Netanyahu that his next goal is to reach a deal with Tehran and secure peace. The president doesn’t want to continue strikes, but is ready for it if the Iranians retaliate,” an American official stated.
