Israel keeps ally US in the dark on retaliatory strikes against Iran: Report

Israel’s refusal to share details of its retaliation plans to last week’s ballistic missile attack by Iran has left the United States frustrated, officials told The Wall Street Journal. Israel has vowed to retaliate even as the US has urged its ally not to hit Iran’s oil facilities or nuclear sites amid fears of an all-out war in the Middle East.
The Joe Biden administration has expressed its displeasure with Israel on being repeatedly caught off guard by its strikes in Gaza and Lebanon, where Hezbollah strongholds have been targeted.
The United States was hoping to get an insight into Israel’s plans during Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant’s visit to Washington on Wednesday. However, the visit was postponed, with an Israeli official saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put on hold Gallant’s departure to the US.
US officials told The Wall Street Journal they don’t have any information on the timing of the strike or what Israel might target.
Last month, Israel bumped off Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike as the Middle East conflict shifted to the Jewish nation’s northern border with Lebanon. The US said it was not informed beforehand by Israel about its plans to target the Hezbollah headquarters.
Upset at not being informed, the US asked Israel if it was prepared to be “alone” in defending itself, the report said.
Days after the incident, Iran fired 200 missiles at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Nasrallah and the assassination of top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier in July.
On Sunday, the US rushed Army General Erik Kurilla, who heads the US Central Command, to Israel to warn the Netanyahu regime against striking Iran’s nuclear sites or oil facilities. However, the US has not received any assurances from Israel yet that it would be notified ahead of an expected strike on Iran.
Since the Gaza war, the US has beefed up its presence in the Middle East region to help defend Israel and US interests. In April, US ships and planes intercepted some of the Iranian missiles and drones fired at Israel.