Israel communicated to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin about an upcoming military operation in Lebanon without providing specific details, U.S. officials revealed. This communication occurred on Tuesday, the same day when an attack, largely attributed to Israel, led to the detonation of thousands of pagers linked to Hezbollah militants.
The exchange between Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant marked one of four conversations held this week, amidst a surge in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, raising concerns about a potential broader regional conflict.
In subsequent discussions, the U.S. was briefed after the attack, and further conversations occurred on Wednesday and the following Sunday, according to officials speaking on anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks.
The U.S. officials noted their lack of prior knowledge regarding a subsequent wave of attacks, resulting in casualties and injuries during the detonation of walkie-talkie radios on Wednesday.
Emphasizing the U.S.’s non-involvement in the attacks, officials expressed surprise concerning the intricacies of the operations which targeted both Hezbollah members and civilians in what seemed to be a prolonged Israeli mission.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh confirmed four calls between the officials but did not disclose the exact timelines. She stated that the recent escalation has not prompted any modifications to the U.S. military presence in the region.
During the Wednesday call, Austin reiterated U.S. support for Israel, addressing regional security challenges posed by Iran, Hezbollah, and Iranian-backed groups. Discussion also touched upon the importance of de-escalation and efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Regarding the safety of American citizens in Lebanon, Singh mentioned the absence of a request for a U.S. military evacuation. While contingency plans exist, officials have not indicated an immediate need for their activation.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby underscored the readiness of U.S. Navy ships with Marines aboard in the Mediterranean Sea to provide assistance if required, emphasizing the availability of evacuation strategies worldwide.
