Some Trump officials reportedly believe Iran 'intentionally missed' Americans


Some in the Trump administration reportedly believe Iran "intentionally missed" Americans when it targeted two Iraqi bases with ballistic missiles.
After early reports indicated that Iran's attacks on two bases that housed U.S. troops resulted in no U.S. casualties, CNN reports there is a "growing belief among some administration officials that Iran's missiles intentionally missed areas populated by Americans," with officials considering that "Iran could have directed their missiles to hit areas that are populated by Americans — but specifically did not." There are, however, also "questions about Iran's targeting capabilities, which could have impacted the areas that were hit," the report says.
But one State Department official told CNN that Iran seemed to be sending the message that "we could have done it and we didn't do it." Similarly, a Pentagon official told CNN's Jake Tapper that many military leaders are of the belief that Iran was intentionally aiming for no loss of U.S. life, going for "minimum damage" but "maximum warning."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump in a tweet after the attack on Tuesday night said "all is well!" and that while an "assessment of casualties and damages" is "taking place now," "so far, so good!" He is set to make a statement on Wednesday morning. This idea of Iran intentionally missing American targets will be presented to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, CNN reports, who will brief Trump.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Israel: Losing the American public
Feature A recent poll finds American support for Israel's military action in Gaza has fallen from 50% to 32%
-
Unmaking Americans
Feature Trump is threatening to revoke the citizenship of foreign-born Americans. Could he do that?
-
EPA: A bonfire of climate change regulations
Feature The Environmental Protection Agency wants to roll back its 'endangerment finding,' a ruling that lets the agency regulate carbon emissions
-
Trump sends FBI to patrol DC, despite falling crime
Speed Read Washington, D.C., 'has become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the world,' Trump said
-
Trump officials reinstating 2 Confederate monuments
Speed Read The administration has plans to 'restore Confederate names and symbols' discarded in the wake of George Floyd's 2020 murder
-
Trump nominates Powell critic for vacant Fed seat
speed read Stephen Miran, the chair of Trump's Council of Economic Advisers and a fellow critic of Fed chair Jerome Powell, has been nominated to fill a seat on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors
-
ICE scraps age limits amid hiring push
Speed Read Anyone 18 or older can now apply to be an ICE agent
-
Trump's global tariffs take effect, with new additions
Speed Read Tariffs on more than 90 US trading partners went into effect, escalating the global trade war
-
House committee subpoenas Epstein files
Speed Read The House Oversight Committee has issued a subpoena to the Justice Department for its Jeffrey Epstein files with an Aug. 19 deadline
-
India rejects Trump threat over Russian oil
Speed Read The president said he would raise tariffs on India for buying and selling Russian oil
-
NY's Hochul vows response to Texas gerrymander
Speed Read Gov. Kathy Hochul has promised to play ball with redistricting that favors the Democrats