Axios: US losing trust in Israel amid uncoordinated military actions

The Biden administration has become increasingly distrustful of what the Israeli government says about its military and diplomatic plans in the multi-front war it is waging, four US officials said.

This deterioration in trust has been exacerbated by Israel's planned retaliation against Iran following a substantial missile attack, which necessitates coordination with the US in case of further Iranian responses, Caliber.Az reports, citing Axios.

The Biden administration does not oppose Israel's potential response to the Iranian attack but seeks a measured approach.

A US official stated, “Our trust of the Israelis is very low right now and for a good reason,” underscoring the gravity of the situation.

During a recent call, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan conveyed to Israel’s Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer the US expectation for “clarity and transparency” regarding Israel's retaliation plans, emphasizing that such actions could have significant implications for US forces and interests in the region. Sullivan's message highlighted that if the US remains uninformed about Israel's intentions, it may not automatically support efforts to counter another Iranian missile attack.

While US officials acknowledged that the Biden administration would likely assist Israel in its defence, there are lingering concerns about the reliability of Israeli coordination. US officials expressed surprise at recent Israeli military and intelligence operations, noting that there have been instances where the US was not consulted or informed in advance.

For example, the Biden administration was not made aware of Israel's dramatic decision to assassinate Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which occurred shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured President Biden of steps towards negotiating with Hamas for hostage releases and establishing a ceasefire in Gaza.

Furthermore, the US was caught off guard by Israel's actions involving remote detonations of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon, as well as the assassination of the militia's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in Beirut.

By Khagan Isayev