Israel denies reports that US President ordered Assad's assassination
(Baonghean.vn) - On September 5, in response to information from a book, Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz affirmed that he had no knowledge that his country's close ally, US President Donald Trump, had ordered the assassination of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
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| Journalist Woodward and his upcoming book about Trump. Photo: AP |
The upcoming book by legendary Watergate journalist Bob Woodward, titled “Fear: Trump in the White House,” reveals that President Trump told Defense Secretary James Mattis that he wanted to assassinate President Assad in response to the suspected chemical weapons attack on Syrian civilians last April.
According to the book, Mr. Mattis told President Trump that he would carry out the mission, but instead developed a plan to launch a limited airstrike that did not directly threaten President Assad.
Immediately, on his Twitter account, Mr. Trump said: "The quotes are made up, misleading the American public." Mr. Mattis also spoke out to reject the book, and considered it just "a literary brand with a strong Washington flavor."
Meanwhile, in an interview with Tel Aviv Radio 103 FM, the Israeli Intelligence Minister affirmed: “I am not aware of any such directive. He (Trump) also denied this. Israel did not make the decision to overthrow President Assad.”
Mr. Katz said that Israel does not see any viable alternative to President Assad among the Syrian rebel groups.
“Of course, Assad’s actions are terrible, and we have always been very critical of them,” the official said. “But we think that the opposition to him, ISIS, is no better. We are only interested in protecting our interests.”
According to the Washington Post, to write the book, journalist Woodward talked to top aides and other “insiders”. The Washington Post also published excerpts of the book on September 4./.
