Washington. According to US President Joe Biden, he was not even aware of the Israeli attack on Beirut. He said he was waiting for more information before commenting on the Israeli air strikes in Beirut. Also reiterated that America was not involved in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operation. “We are still gathering information, I can tell you – the United States had no knowledge of the IDF operation or any involvement in it,” Biden told reporters in Delaware. We are gathering more information. When we have more information, I will be able to say more. CNN quoted a US official as saying on Friday that Israel had informed the US after the operation began and the planes took off. The officer said that we had no prior knowledge about this nor had anyone informed us earlier.
An Israeli official told CNN that the information was sent “shortly before” the attack, and that the US played no role in the operation. When Biden was asked whether the attacks targeting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (according to CNN report) could be justified? So the US President refused to comment of any kind. His response was that we would have to gather more information. I am not in a position to answer this question.” He said he is “always concerned” about rising tensions in the region due to the conflict. Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said on Friday that the US is still trying to collect more information about the Israeli attacks in Beirut. “We’re still gathering information, we’re trying to figure out what the intent was – and until we have that information, we can’t comment,” he said.
The top US diplomat once again stressed the need for a diplomatic solution to tensions in the region. Blinken told a news conference that Israel has the right to defend itself and try to safely bring hostage civilians back, but the way it is doing it is what matters. He warned that not pursuing diplomacy would lead to “more conflict, more violence, more suffering and more instability and insecurity, which will have ramifications around the world”. The top US diplomat claimed that the path to diplomacy still exists, although “it may seem difficult to see at the moment”. Blinken’s statement comes a few days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed no interest in the American armistice proposal.