Biden says the US had “no knowledge of or participation in” Beirut attack

President Joe Biden

US President Joe Biden said he’s waiting for more information before commenting on Israel’s Friday airstrikes in Beirut, reiterating that the US was not involved in the Israel Defense Forces operation.



CNN reported earlier Friday that, according to a US official, Israel informed the United States of the operation once it was already underway, and Israel had planes in the air.

“We had no foreknowledge of this and that does not qualify as a heads up,” the official said.

An Israeli official told CNN the notification was sent “shortly before” the strike, and the US did not play a role in the operation.



Pressed if he believed the strikes — which CNN has reported were targeting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah — were justified, Biden declined to say.

“We have to get more detail, he said. “I don’t know enough to answer that question.”

He said he’s “always concerned,” about the conflict escalating tensions in the region.



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