Biden told reporters that the US is still “gathering information” on the situation.
Asked if he supports Israel’s actions in Lebanon, Biden replied, "We have to get more detail. I don't know enough to answer that question."
In a press conference later on Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that "the choices that all parties make in the coming days will determine which path this region is on, with profound consequences for its people – now, and possibly for years to come.”
Blinken added that "It is a legitimate and important objective for Israel to again create an environment in which people can get back to their homes," and that he will "let Israel speak to their operations and their objectives".
"The most important thing to do through diplomacy is to try first to stop firing in both directions, and then to use the time that we would have in such a ceasefire to see if we can reach a broader diplomatic agreement," Blinken stated.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters earlier on Friday that the United States had no advance warning of an Israeli strike in Beirut and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as the strike was underway.
"The United States was not involved in this operation and we had no advanced warning," Singh told reporters.
She declined to say what Gallant told Austin about the operation and whether it targeted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The Pentagon declined to speculate on whether Nasrallah was still alive.
While it has been speculated that Nasrallah was in the command center at the time of the strike, there has been no confirmation of his fate as of yet.
A senior defense official told Galei Tzahal (IDF Radio), “Whoever was in the Hezbollah headquarters at the time of the strikes - did not come out alive.”
Security sources in Lebanon told Sky News’ Arabic-language service that the delay in Hezbollah's announcement on Nasrallah's fate raises the likelihood that he was eliminated. Israel National News - Arutz Sheva
