US President Joe Biden says he is waiting for more information on the airstrikes Israel conducted on Beirut but said "the US had no knowledge of, or participation in, the action taken by the IDF." "We're still gathering information, I can tell you — the US had no knowledge of or participation in the IDF action. We're gathering more information.". I'll have more to say when we have more information, Biden said to reporters traveling with him in Delaware.
CNN reported earlier that, according to a US official, Israel informed the US about the operation only after it had begun and the planes were already in the air. "We had no foreknowledge of this and that does not qualify as a heads up," the official said. An Israeli official acknowledged to CNN that the notice was received "shortly before" the strike, indicating that US involvement did not occur.
When asked whether he believed the strikes, which CNN reported targeted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, were warranted, Biden demurred, saying "We have to get more detail. I don't know enough to answer that question." He did say, however, that he remains concerned about the potential for increased tensions in the area.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has already indicated that the US is still trying to gather more information about the Israeli strikes in Beirut. We are still gathering information, making sure that we fully understand what happened, what the intent was, and until we have that information, I am not able to describe in detail our response to it, so we'll continue to work on that in the hours ahead," Blinken said during a news conference at the United Nations General Assembly.
Blinken reiterated that a diplomatic way should be achieved to solve tensions in the region not to widespread clashes. He told reporters that "the way it does so matters" as while Israel has a right to defend itself. Adding: "The choices that all parties make in the coming days will determine which path this region is on, with profound consequences for its people, now and possibly for years to come".
He warned that leaving diplomacy is the greater danger of conflict, more violence, more suffering, and greater instability and insecurity where the ripples will lap around the world. Yet despite all that he outlined, he said that there is still a road to diplomacy, though "it may be hard to see right now." He added that "in our judgment it is necessary and we will continue to work intensely with all parties to urge them to choose that course.".
The statement by Blinken comes after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he was reluctant to accept an accepted ceasefire proposal preferred by the US. And as Blinken continued to strike a dovish note, he echoed Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's earlier warnings to other regional actors, most specifically Iran, not to take advantage of this increase in tension between Israel and Lebanon due to loose targeting on US assets in the region.
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