POLITICO reported on Monday that despite the Biden administration’s public calls for a ceasefire in Lebanon, White House officials privately told Israeli officials that they agreed with the plan to escalate in Lebanon and shift its focus to the north.
The report, which cited US and Israeli officials, said the message was delivered by Brett McGurk, the top Middle East official on the National Security Council, and Amos Hochstein, an Israeli-born veteran of the Israeli Defense Forces who works as a special advisor for President Biden.
The report said that Israel told the US of its plans to focus on Lebanon but didn’t offer much detail, and McGurk and Hochstein “relayed to their Israeli counterparts that — while they still urged a cautious approach — the timing was likely opportune for such a move, especially after Hezbollah had been significantly degraded in the months prior.”
The report contradicts public claims from US officials that they have been seeking a ceasefire in Lebanon and are working toward a diplomatic solution. But US actions have shown they do support Israel’s actions in Lebanon, as the Biden administration gave Israel $8.7 billion in new military aid amid the dramatic escalation.
The POLITICO report said that Amos, Hochstein, and other top US officials are describing the war in Lebanon “as a history-defining moment — one that will reshape the Middle East for the better for years to come.”
Over 1,000 people, including many civilians, have been slaughtered by Israeli forces in Lebanon since September 23. Airstrikes have been non-stop, and the Israeli military has said it’s started a ground invasion of Lebanon.
