Israeli minister postpones visit to US amid ongoing military operations

US officials are increasingly frustrated at being caught off guard by Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, and they are eager to prevent further escalation.

There had been hopes that the planned meeting on October 9 between Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon would shed light on Israel’s intentions. However, Gallant postponed the visit, reportedly at the direction of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is focused on ongoing plans for an operation against Iran, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

As it stands, US officials are still in the dark regarding both the timing of any potential strike and the specific targets Israel might pursue. Last month, Israel executed a strike against Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah without prior notification to the US, catching senior administration officials by surprise just as Washington was working to finalize a cease-fire plan between Israel and Lebanon.

Austin expressed frustration that the US lacked sufficient time to reposition its forces to potentially support Israel or protect nearby American troops. 

With Israel vowing to respond to Iran’s launch of nearly 200 missiles shortly after Nasrallah's assassination, US officials are hopeful they will gain more insights this time around, as a strike could lead to deeper American military involvement. Israel has, at times, heeded US advice over the past year.

For instance, the US advocated for a more measured approach to operations in Rafah, leading Israel to limit its actions in that area. Additionally, US pressure convinced Israel to avoid a premature attack on Hezbollah in Lebanon based on flawed intelligence shortly after Hamas' October 7 attack. However, Israel's forthcoming response to Iran could challenge the extent of its cooperation. 

Army General Erik Kurilla, who leads US Central Command, visited Israel on October 6 to meet with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and senior Israeli military leaders, partly to caution against striking Iran’s nuclear facilities or oil sites. Gallant is viewed as the Israeli leader most attuned to US concerns regarding the Gaza conflict, particularly in terms of increasing humanitarian aid and planning for post-war governance.

By Naila Huseynova