Report: Trump Told Russian Officials of Israeli Operation in Syria in May
U.S. President Donald Trump informed Russian counterparts of a joint mission between Sayeret Matkal and the Mossad in Syria during a closed-door conversation in May, Vanity Fair reported Wednesday.
The mission was to gather intelligence on an ISIS plot to transform computers into bombs undetectable by airport security.
US Homeland Security officials imposed restrictions on passengers carrying laptops and other large electronic gear in cabins on nine airlines, most of which were Middle Eastern carriers, and British authorities imposed similar restrictions as a result of the intelligence.
The US ban was lifted in July.
On May 10, Trump met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak, in a closed-door meeting in the Oval Office. The meeting was closed to American press outlets but pictures were published by Russian media.
In subsequent days, reports leaked about the discussion topic — Israeli intelligence.
Trump denied that he mentioned Israel during his meeting with Lavrov and Kislyak.
“I never mentioned the word or the name Israel,” he said before meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the King David Hotel, in response to a question by a reporter. “They are all saying I did, so you have another story wrong. Never mentioned the word Israel.”
Netanyahu told reporters that “intelligence cooperation is terrific, never been better.”
The Vanity Fair report sheds new light on the details of the meeting.
