Countries are losing trust in Washington. Retired US Army General Ben Hodges told Ukrinform that recent military operations by Ukraine and Israel against enemy targets reflect a growing distrust in the US by both countries.
On 13 June, Israel carried out a large-scale military Rising Lion operation targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities. The operation, years in the making, mirrored Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, as both involved coordinated drone swarms launched from hidden bases to cripple enemy infrastructure. Iran responded with ballistic missile attacks, killing three. It still refuses to stop its nuclear program despite Trump’s direct offer.
Hodges says he believes the Israelis also do not trust the Trump administration because they did not ask permission or inform the Trump administration directly before the operation. Similarly, Ukrainian forces did not do this immediately before Operation Spiderweb.
He emphasizes that this is a negative result for the US, but he does not blame Israel for its decision.
At the same time, the general hopes that Washington will support Jerusalem and help “finish the job,” which could lead to the elimination of the nuclear threat from Iran.
Another important lesson from Israel’s strikes is that Russia “did nothing” to assist Iran, once again proving its unreliability. He added that although Iran provided military assistance to Russia, it is currently unknown whether this continues and to what extent.
Hodges also expressed the view that the current US administration has no intention of actively intervening to remove the Russian regime, showing indifference to Ukraine’s fate and to European security.
When asked about the possibility of US troop withdrawal from Europe, the general didn’t rule it out, but believes it is unlikely to happen in the near term.