Conflicting US statements raise questions on involvement in Israeli strikes on Beirut

Beirut (Quds News Network)- The Pentagon has issued conflicting statements regarding the United States’ involvement in Israel’s recent airstrikes in Beirut, raising questions about the nature of their cooperation. On one hand, US officials, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, asserted that Israel did not provide advance notice of the operation targeting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. According to the Pentagon, the US was not involved in the strikes and had no prior knowledge of them.

However, reports from ABC News indicate that Israel notified the US less than an hour before the attack, suggesting a level of collaboration. This contradiction was further highlighted by Israeli Channel 12, which stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorized the operation against Hezbollah before addressing the United Nations, indicating premeditated intentions to escalate the situation.

The Pentagon maintained that while it continues to share intelligence with Israel, it was not complicit in the Beirut attack. Austin reportedly held a conversation with his Israeli counterpart during the assault, adding another layer of complexity to the narrative.

Eyewitness accounts from the southern suburbs of Beirut reported widespread destruction caused by the strike, with approximately ten rockets hitting densely populated areas, murdering at least 14 civilians.

Israel had carried out a series of airstrikes on an entire block in Beirut’s southern suburbs earlier today, targeting what they described as Hezbollah’s central command post. The attacks are being considered some of the most intense in recent memory, with Israeli reports claiming that the strikes may have aimed at Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s headquarters.