Pentagon officials tell Congress there was no intelligence suggesting Iran planned to attack American forces first

U.S. officials admit to Congress there was no intelligence suggesting an imminent Iranian attack prior to the massive joint strikes by the U.S. and Israel.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 2, 2026, 9:48 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Japan Times

Contradictions in Congressional Briefings

Officials from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump informed congressional staff during private sessions on Sunday that intelligence did not suggest Iran was planning an initial attack on American forces. Two individuals familiar with the matter confirmed that these briefings took place following the commencement of major military operations. These admissions directly challenge the primary arguments used by senior administration figures to justify the current conflict.

Scale of U.S. and Israeli Military Actions

The United States and Israel launched a series of ambitious attacks on Iran on Saturday, marking some of the most significant military engagements in the region in decades. According to official reports, these strikes have hit more than 1,000 targets so far. The operations have resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the sinking of several Iranian warships, signaling a massive escalation in regional hostilities.

International Casualties and Evacuations

The conflict has begun to impact foreign nationals and neighboring countries, leading to significant humanitarian concerns. Beijing has confirmed that one Chinese citizen was killed in the conflict, prompting the evacuation of over 3,000 people from the region. Furthermore, the volatility of the situation was underscored by a report that three U.S. warplanes were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defense systems during the height of the activity.