CIA was skeptical of Israeli intel on Iranian threat against Trump's plane - National & International News -

CIA was skeptical of Israeli intel on Iranian threat against Trump’s plane

On July 8, President Trump was scheduled to return via Britain from the Turkish capital of Ankara, where he was attending a NATO summit. At that time, it was reported that he had switched from his new Air Force One plane gifted by Qatar to a nearly 40-year-old “baby blue” VC-25 Air Force One plane for his return flight. On Truth Social, Trump claimed the switch was made “for old times’ sake”. Official sources told the media that they had chosen to use the older plane because there was a threat of attack from Iran (relayed by Israeli intelligence). The Qatari plane did not have the necessary safety modifications to deal with such a threat.

Earlier this week, the Washington Post reported that, in fact, Trump had not flown on either the new Air Force One, nor the old one. Instead, after climbing the steps and posing in the doorway of the old Air Force One, Trump and a few key aids were smuggled off the plane from the other side using a catering truck. The catering truck took them to an Air Force C-32A, which flew them to Britain.

The old Air Force One then took off with members of the press and several White House officials on board. Most of those on board were unaware that Trump had deboarded and that they were essentially flying in a decoy.

“Low confidence”

US intelligence officials have cast doubt on the validity of the intelligence that led Trump to switch planes. These doubts were reported yesterday in the Washington Post, but intelligence officials had shared their skepticism with the media as early as July 10.

Israeli intelligence reported the threat to the CIA, claiming they had information on a specific plot to target Trump’s plane with a shoulder fired missile, known as a MANPADS. The CIA shared what the Israelis had told them with Trump officials and the Secret Service, but they also conveyed their skepticism about the intelligence. Ultimately and appropriately, the Secret Service acted with an abundance of caution.

One official who spoke to the Post described the threat intel as “Israeli-derived, not U.S.-generated, and viewed as low confidence”.

Others have questioned the plausibility of Iran carrying out such an attack at the NATO summit, given the tight security conditions in Ankara. The city was essentially locked down during the summit with tens of thousands of Turkish security personnel on watch. Any hypothetical plotters would have needed to smuggle the missiles through multiple roadblocks and security checkpoints.

“A broader pattern”

Turkish officials were even more blunt, suggesting the Israelis fabricated the report for political gain. The summit took place at the end of the short-lived ceasefire during which the US was negotiating peace with Iran, over stringent Israeli objections. During his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump had expressed optimism that negotiations would bear fruit. However, the very day of Trump’s flight from Ankara, he declared the ceasefire to be “over”.

The Israelis have also strongly objected to Trump’s plans to allow the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, which the Israelis fear would threaten their regional military supremacy.

A former US official who spoke to the Washington Post said that the incident “fit a broader pattern of Israeli intelligence reporting that some officials see as designed as much to shape presidential decision-making as to inform it”.

Shortly before the Ankara incident, US warned Iran of fears the Israelis would try to kill Iranian peace negotiators.