Escalating Tensions: U.S. Receives Israel's Alert Before Deadly Bombings in Lebanon

American media reported that Washington received a notification from Israel shortly before bombings targeting communications devices in Lebanon, resulting in a rising death toll. As of Thursday, the Lebanese authorities announced that the death toll from the ICOM radio explosions has reached 25, bringing the total fatalities since the pager explosions two days prior to 37. The CBS network cited officials stating that the U.S. received a notification from Israel about 20 minutes before the bombings commenced. CNN corroborated this, noting that Israel informed the U.S. of the operation in Lebanon but withheld specific details. This lack of information left U.S. officials confused, especially as the explosions occurred while Secretary of State Antony Blinken was en route to Cairo, catching U.S. officials off-guard as they monitored breaking news on TV during the flight. Despite the escalating tensions, CBS reported that President Biden's administration does not foresee a comprehensive war between Israel and Hezbollah as inevitable. In light of these developments, Axios reported that U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has postponed his visit to Israel originally scheduled for next week due to the escalating situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border. During a recent conversation with his Israeli counterpart, Austin reaffirmed the U.S.'s unwavering support for Israel and emphasized the importance of calming tensions in the region while deterring potential adversaries. His priority now is to facilitate a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and work towards a lasting diplomatic resolution to the conflict along the Israeli-Lebanese border.