Smoke rises on the Lebanese side of the border between Israel and Lebanon after an Israeli airstrike, as seen from northern Israel, November 18, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
The US military is not providing intelligence support to Israel for its operations in Lebanon, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh also said no Israeli ground incursion into Lebanon appeared imminent, but referred reporters to Israel for questions about its operations and plans.
Asked about whether the United States was supporting Israel‘s operations in Lebanon, including with intelligence support, Singh said: “No. No support.”
“When it comes to Lebanon, the US military has no involvement in Israel‘s operations,” Singh said.
It was unclear whether Singh’s remarks applied to the sharing of any real-time US intelligence on Hezbollah missiles that might be heading toward Israel.
Israel‘s military chief told troops on Wednesday that airstrikes in Lebanon would continue in order to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure and to prepare the way for a possible ground operation by Israeli forces.
Hezbollah has been pummeling northern Israeli communities almost daily with barrages of drones, rockets, and missiles from its stronghold of Lebanon, which borders the Jewish state, since the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas invaded southern Israel from neighboring Gaza on Oct. 7.
More than 60,000 Israelis have been forced to evacuate their homes in northern Israel and flee to other parts of the country amid the unrelenting attacks from Hezbollah, which wields significant political and military influence across Lebanon.
The conflict has escalated over the past week, with both sides increasing the scale and intensity of their strikes.
Israeli leaders have said they seek a diplomatic resolution to the conflict with Hezbollah along the border with Lebanon but are prepared to use large-scale military force if needed to ensure all citizens can safely return to their homes.
Singh said the United States government was making diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation between Israel and Hezbollah. Israeli airstrikes this week have targeted Hezbollah leaders and hit hundreds of sites deep inside Lebanon.
“You’re seeing a full-court press here from United States government and this administration. We want to see a diplomatic solution, and we want to see it urgently,” Singh added.
US President Joe Biden said an all-out war was possible in the Middle East but there was also the possibility of a settlement in Israel‘s conflicts in Gaza and with Hezbollah.
The United States and France are trying to hammer out an interim accord to halt hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah with a view to opening broader diplomatic talks, Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides added.
The post US Not Providing Intelligence Support to Israel for Lebanon Operations, Pentagon Says first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
