American media reported that Washington received a notification from Israel shortly before the bombings that targeted communications devices in Lebanon during the past two days.
The Lebanese authorities announced today, Thursday, that the death toll from the ICOM radio explosions has risen to 25, bringing the total number since the ICOM radio explosions to 25.badgerThe day before yesterday, Tuesday, to 37 dead.
The American CBS network quoted officials as saying that Washington received a notification from Israel without details about 20 minutes before the bombings began.
In turn, CNN confirmed, based on informed sources, that Israel informed the United States that it would carry out an operation in Lebanon, but did not provide any details.
The sources told the American network that the lack of details left American officials confused, until reports emerged about the explosion of hundreds of communication devices.
The sources added that Tuesday's explosions occurred while Secretary of State Antony Blinken was traveling to Cairo, surprising US officials as they watched real-time breaking news on TV screens on the plane.
In turn, CBS quoted American officials as saying that President Joe Biden's administration does not believe that a comprehensive war between Israel and Hezbollah is inevitable.
Postpone visit
In turn, the Axios website quoted informed sources as saying that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin postponed his visit to Israel, which was scheduled for early next week, due to the escalation on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Austin spoke yesterday with his Israeli counterpart, and assured him of the United States' steadfast support for Israel, and its commitment to “efforts to calm tensions in the region and deter regional adversaries.”
Austin said the priority now is to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and to reach a permanent diplomatic solution to the conflict on the Israeli-Lebanese border.