CNN: Israel Warns US About Preparing Operation In Lebanon
- 19.09.2024, 10:14
- 2,994
But hasn't disclosed details.
Israel has warned the US about preparing an operation in Lebanon. However, Tel Aviv did not disclose details of what was planned.
This is reported by CNN.
According to the publication, Israeli officials told the US that the country was going to conduct an operation in Lebanon on Tuesday, September 17, but did not provide any details. According to three sources familiar with the matter, the operation was discussed, among other things, during a phone call between Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Galant in the morning of September 17.
This means that U.S. officials were in the dark until some time later when reports of hundreds of exploding pagers appeared. This happened as US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was flying from Washington to Cairo.
CNN adds that this is not the first time Israel has taken ‘provocative action’ while Blinken is in the Middle East. But the event has raised concerns about the escalation the U.S. is trying to avoid.
Blinken later said the U.S. was not aware of ‘these incidents’ and was not involved.
The US official told CNN that the US conveyed to Iran through secret channels that it was not involved in the operation, so Tehran should not seek escalation.