On Tuesday, Israel warned the U.S. about the Lebanon operation. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin knew of an upcoming military action in Lebanon, without any specifics. Authorities issued this alert shortly after hundreds of Hezbollah terrorist pagers detonated in an incident largely blamed on Israel. Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke throughout four calls that week. These calls coincided with rising tensions and concerns about a broader regional confrontation.
The two leaders reconvened later on Tuesday, and the United States confirmed it received updates following the blasts. Officials, speaking anonymously, noted they had also communicated on Wednesday and had a prior phone call on Sunday. However, the second round of strikes targeted walkie-talkie radios on Wednesday without giving the United States prior information.
Explosions over two days injured nearly 3,000 people and killed at least 37, including two toddlers. The attacks on electronic devices seemed to be part of a months-long Israeli campaign aimed at killing numerous Hezbollah members at once, but many civilians also suffered.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh confirmed the four conversations, but she could not provide specific dates. She emphasized that the United States has not modified its military posture in response to the recent upsurge in violence. Austin restored US support for Israel on Wednesday while addressing the threats posed by Iran, Hezbollah, and other Iranian proxies.
Austin also emphasized how crucial it is to lower tensions and establish a cease-fire to make it easier for Hamas to release its hostages. He also supported using diplomacy to enable people on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border to return to their homes safely.
Singh said that the State Department has not submitted any requests to the Pentagon on possible evacuations of American citizens. Though there isn’t a pressing need to activate them, preparations are in place for the evacuation of Americans. Israel warned the U.S. about the Lebanon operation, and American Navy vessels are currently stationed in the Mediterranean, ready to intervene if necessary.
