Israel cancels large-scale air operation against Iran

TEHRAN, Iran — The Israeli Air Force scrapped a planned large-scale strike on Iran at the last minute, an Israeli military commander said, according to The Times of Israel. The commander said the air force had been preparing for a broad sortie by the afternoon of June 8, with the operation aimed at hitting hundreds of targets in central Iran. The strike order was withdrawn during a meeting with squadron leaders about an hour before aircraft were due to take to the runway. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called off the operation after U.S. President Donald Trump instructed that the conflict with Iran not be escalated, The Times of Israel reported. The decision followed an exchange in which Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel and Israel struck several targets inside Iran in response. Before the latest flare-up, Israel had also bombed the southern suburbs of Beirut, the stronghold of Iran's ally Hezbollah. No further details on the canceled operation or any subsequent Israeli planning were immediately available.