Israeli and US officials confirmed to Axios that Israel notified U.S. Central Command moments before the strike on Beirut took place, two weeks after Israel insisted it only informed Washington after the operation became public.
According to Axios, Israeli and US officials confirmed that Israel notified U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) shortly before the strike on Beirut took place. The confirmation significantly revises the timeline of US-Israel coordination during the operation.
As The Zioneer reported on June 7 at 14:06, Israeli officials had initially briefed that Washington was informed of the strike only after it was already reported to the Israeli public, with officials asserting that Israel is "not a protectorate." In the days that followed, Israel declined to comment on coordination ahead of the strike (June 7, 14:53), while US officials stated the White House did not greenlight the operation (June 8, 01:57). The new Axios report, citing both Israeli and American officials, suggests the gap between the two positions may have narrowed: notification — not authorization — occurred before the strike, even if the public messaging at the time emphasized post-operation notification.
The distinction is operationally significant. Prior notification to CENTCOM allows the US military to adjust its posture in the region and avoid mid-operation confusion, while preserving Israel's claim that it does not seek case-by-case approval from Washington. The specific timing and nature of the notification have not been disclosed.
2 developments
- StrongIsrael claims sovereignty in notifying US after strike went public
- DevelopingIsraeli Media: US Informed of Operation Before Strike in Lebanon
- DevelopingLikud MK Vaturi: Israel does not seek US approval before striking in Beirut, only notifies
- DevelopingNetanyahu did not wait for Trump's approval before Beirut strike, source claims
Source and signal
- Internal intake