The Pentagon Unaware of Israeli Strike in Beirut: US Defense Secretary Spoke to Israeli Counterpart During Operation
Published By: Shankhyaneel Sarkar
Last Updated: September 28, 2024, 00:02 IST
Location: Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
The United States received no prior notification of the Israeli strike in Beirut, as confirmed by a Pentagon spokesperson. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin engaged in a conversation with his Israeli counterpart during the ongoing operation, marking the first public statements by the U.S. government regarding the Israeli action that went against calls for de-escalation and ceasefire by Washington.
Emphasizing that the U.S. was not involved in the operation and had no advance warning, spokesperson Sabrina Singh refrained from disclosing details of the Israeli Defense Minister’s communication with Austin. The Pentagon also did not speculate on the status of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah targeted in the attack.
Austin’s prior warnings of the severe consequences of a full-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah underscore the Biden administration’s efforts to prevent further escalation amidst the crisis.