White House 'loses trust' in Netanyahu amid growing conflict: report
The Biden administration’s trust in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has eroded due to concerns over Israel’s recent military actions and lack of transparency in its operations.
This breakdown in trust comes as Israel navigates multiple regional conflicts, including tensions with Iran, following Tehran's recent ballistic missile strikes.
According to several US officials speaking to Axios, the US government is wary of Israeli military responses, especially as these operations impact American forces and interests in the region.
The decline in trust intensified after Israel failed to inform the US of critical actions, such as the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut.
Both strikes were launched without advance warning, despite prior commitments from Netanyahu to cooperate on diplomatic efforts and a cease-fire deal regarding Gaza hostages.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed frustration over Israel’s last-minute notification of the Nasrallah strike, which compromised American troops' safety.
It was later revealed that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had been instructed by Netanyahu to withhold the information from Washington.
Further aggravating the situation, Netanyahu walked back on a US-backed cease-fire proposal in Lebanon, contributing to the growing mistrust.
Despite initial indications that Israel would support the cease-fire, Israeli officials backtracked, leaving Washington blindsided.
The US is also concerned about Israel's directive for civilians in northern Gaza to evacuate south, fearing it may signal a potential siege and displacement of Palestinians.
US officials have warned that such actions could violate international law, although Israel maintains that this is a temporary military operation.
In light of these developments, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has requested "clarity and transparency" from Israel, warning that if the US is not kept in the loop, it may not assist in thwarting another Iranian missile attack.
While Israeli officials claim they want to coordinate with the US American officials remain skeptical.
As Israel prepares to retaliate against Iran, the US stresses the importance of a measured response.
The Biden administration fears that an unchecked Israeli operation could escalate tensions further, potentially leading to an all-out war with Iran.
The rift between the two governments underscores the challenges of maintaining a united front as conflicts in the Middle East intensify.
Previously, Israeli forces killed the would-be successors of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a video statement, Netanyahu said Israeli strikes had eliminated thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah, his replacement, and even the successor of the replacement, without specifying their names.
Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant suggested Hashem Safieddine, the expected successor to Nasrallah, was likely killed.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah, which had initially supported ceasefire efforts, later clarified it would continue its rocket attacks on Israel unless the offensive in Gaza stopped.
Violence has continued to escalate along the Lebanese-Israeli border.
In response, Hezbollah retracted earlier comments suggesting potential support for a ceasefire in its conflict with Israel, with the militant group vowing to continue its rocket attacks.
The White House continues to monitor Israel’s plans closely, with top officials from both sides meeting to discuss next steps.
Despite the trust issues, US officials acknowledge that Washington will likely still defend Israel if it comes under further attack.