According to Axios, four American officials have confirmed that the Biden administration has become increasingly unsure of what it is saying in recent weeks. Israeli government About its military and diplomatic plans in the multi-front war it is waging.
The crisis of confidence is exacerbated by… Israeli revenge Potential plan against Iran, which requires coordination with Washington, especially in the event of a corresponding Iranian response.
US officials said that the Biden administration does not oppose Israel’s response to… Iranian attack last week but she wants it to be thoughtful.
“Our confidence in the Israelis is very low right now, and for good reason,” one American official said.
According to Axios, two American officials said that during a phone call on Friday, he was informed National Security Advisor At the White House, Jake sullivan Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer said that Washington expects “clarity and transparency” from Israel regarding its plans to respond to Iran Because it will have effects on American forces and interests in the region.
The officials said that Dermer confirmed that Israel wanted to coordinate with the United States, but they added that Biden administration She wonders how much she can trust that this will be the case.
Many surprises for the White House
Axios quoted American officials as saying that the Biden administration was surprised several times recently by Israeli military or intelligence operations.
In some cases, the United States was not consulted or notified in advance, or was notified in advance that Israeli aircraft were already en route to carry out an air strike somewhere in The Middle East.
The Israelis did not inform the Biden administration in advance of the assassination of the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh In Tehran, an operation that came several days after the Israeli Prime Minister was informed Benjamin Netanyahu President Biden in the Oval Office said he will take steps to make progress toward reaching an agreement with agitation To release the hostages it holds and establish a ceasefire in Gaza.
Austin got angry
The United States was also not aware of Israel’s plans to detonate devices.Pager“And the wireless communication devices used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon and the assassination of the party’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in Beirut.
American officials said that the Minister of Defense Lloyd Austin He was angry when his Israeli counterpart told him Yoav Galant By assassination Nasrallah Minutes before Israeli planes dropped their bombs over Beirut.
American officials said that Austin saw this as a breach of trust on Gallant’s part because the late notification did not allow the Pentagon to take measures to protect American forces in the region.
Israeli officials said that Gallant told Austin that he had received orders from Netanyahu not to notify the United States in advance.
