President Donald Trump pulled back from military strikes against Iran in retaliation, after first approving them, for downing a US surveillance drone, after a day of escalating tensions. Military and diplomatic officials were expecting a strike as late as 7pm on Thursday. Intense discussions and debates were on at the White House among the president's top national security officials and congressional leaders. According to officials, the president had initially approved attacks on a handful of Iranian targets, like radar and missile batteries.