[ad_1]
WASHINGTON: The Biden administration is concerned that Israel lacks achievable military objectives in the Gaza Strip, and that the Israel Defence Forces are not yet ready to launch a ground invasion with a plan that can work, senior administration officials said. In phone conversations with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant, defence secretary Lloyd Austin has stressed the need for careful consideration of how Israeli forces might conduct a ground invasion of Gaza, where Hamas maintains intricate tunnel networks under densely populated areas.
Biden administration officials insisted that the US had not told Israel what to do and still supported the ground invasion. But the Pentagon has sent a three-star Marine, Lt. Gen. James Glynn, along with other officers to help the Israelis with the challenges of fighting an urban war. A Pentagon official said on Monday that the deployment of Glynndid not mean the Pentagon was making decisions for Israel. Glynn, the official said, would not be on the ground in Israel if an incursion into Gaza begins.
In his conversations with Gallant, Austin has described the hard-fought campaign to clear the Iraqi city of Mosul of Islamic State fighters in 2016 and 2017. “The first thing that everyone should know, and I think everyone does know, is that urban combat is extremely difficult,” Austin told ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday. He said that he had “encouraged” Gallant to “conduct their operations in accordance with the law of war.” American officials have become increasingly concerned that a ground invasion in Gaza could lead to a huge loss of civilian lives. He was on the phone again with Gallant on Monday, Pentagon officials said, emphasizing “the importance of civilian protection.” NYT
Biden administration officials insisted that the US had not told Israel what to do and still supported the ground invasion. But the Pentagon has sent a three-star Marine, Lt. Gen. James Glynn, along with other officers to help the Israelis with the challenges of fighting an urban war. A Pentagon official said on Monday that the deployment of Glynndid not mean the Pentagon was making decisions for Israel. Glynn, the official said, would not be on the ground in Israel if an incursion into Gaza begins.
In his conversations with Gallant, Austin has described the hard-fought campaign to clear the Iraqi city of Mosul of Islamic State fighters in 2016 and 2017. “The first thing that everyone should know, and I think everyone does know, is that urban combat is extremely difficult,” Austin told ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday. He said that he had “encouraged” Gallant to “conduct their operations in accordance with the law of war.” American officials have become increasingly concerned that a ground invasion in Gaza could lead to a huge loss of civilian lives. He was on the phone again with Gallant on Monday, Pentagon officials said, emphasizing “the importance of civilian protection.” NYT
#Wary #Israels #action #plan #officials
