Karoline Leavitt tries to set the record straight on reason for war

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to set the record straight on why the US decided to strike Iran after critics expressed confusion over who exactly faced an 'imminent threat' from the Islamic Republic. 

Since President Donald Trump launched strikes on Iran, the White House's explanation for the offensive has been scrutinized heavily. 

Leavitt clarified further the administration's rationale for attacking Iran in conjunction with Israel during the White House press briefing on Wednesday. 

'This decision to launch this operation was based on a cumulative effect of various direct threats that Iran posed to the United States of America, and the President's feeling based on fact that Iran does pose an imminent and direct threat to the United States of America.'

Her response stood in stark contrast to that of Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier in the week, which prompted fury from both Republicans and Democrats who accused the US of being pulled into the conflict by Israel. 

'The president's fact-based feelings about the threat facing the US were based on Iran's growing missile programs, their continued pursuit of nuclear weapons and the threat those pose to US and allied forces in the region, Leavitt said.

The press secretary added that Trump was intent on joining Israel in its initial salvo, which she claimed was 'obviously' the right decision. 

The five-day offensive so far,has killed nearly 50 of Iran's top officials, including its longtime leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with scores of religious leaders.

It has also sent the Middle East into chaos as Iran has targeted half a dozen countries in the region, including Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia in retaliation. 

On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the reason for launching strikes is because of an 'imminent threat' to US troops and assets. 

'We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces,' Rubio said Monday. 

'And we knew that if we didn't preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.'

His comments enraged scores of Democratic lawmakers and conservatives, including former Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and pundits Matt Walsh and Megyn Kelly. 

The following day, Rubio backtracked and said that he was the victim of a rogue video clipping job, claiming that he clearly stated the 'imminent threat' was Iran's missile program. 

'I told you this had to happen anyway,' Rubio said on Tuesday. 'The President made a decision, and the decision he made was that Iran was not going to be allowed to hide behind its ballistic missile program, that Iran was not going to be allowed to hide behind its ability to conduct these attacks.' 

'That's what I said yesterday, and you guys need to play it. If you're going to play these statements, you need to play the whole statement, not flip it to reach a narrative that you want to,' he added.

When asked if he was pressured by Israel to join the strikes against Iran, Trump said this week that he was the one who may have forced Israel into the conflict. 

'No, I might have forced their hand,' he stated. 

Leavitt reiterated Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's past remarks about the mission objective for the offensive, dubbed Operation Epic Fury. 

The purpose of the operation, Leavitt said, was to destroy the Iranian Navy, raze the regime's ballistic missile capabilities, ensure Iran's terrorist proxies are unable to destabilize the region and ensure that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon. 

'It's safe to say that, thus far, Operation Epic Fury has been a resounding success,' Leavitt said. 

She also repeatedly rebuffed questions about whether one of the goals of the operation is to enact regime change in the country. 

In addition, Leavitt said the president would not rule out putting US troops on the ground in Iran. 

So far, at least six US troops have been killed in the conflict. 

At least 1,045 people have been killed in Iran, the country's Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs said Wednesday. 

In Israel, 11 have died. More than 50 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to the health ministry.