Austin: No evidence of Hezbollah bunker under Sahel Hospital

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: CNN
23 Oct 2024 19:43

The US remains "Israel’s" largest arms supplier, with 69% of "Israel's" military imports coming from the US in 2023.

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Foreign and local journalists take a tour inside Sahel General Hospital, in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. (AP)

CNN reported on Wednesday that the US has not found evidence to support Israeli claims that Hezbollah has a bunker beneath Sahel Hospital in southern Beirut, according to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Speaking to reporters in Rome, Austin said, "We’ve not seen evidence of that at this point," but added that the US will continue to work closely with Israeli counterparts to gain more clarity on the situation.

The allegations from "Israel" have drawn significant attention, particularly as "Israel" expands its aggression on Lebanon, despite Austin's previous call for a de-escalation in the region. Austin reportedly urged "Israel" to reduce its attacks near the Lebanese capital, but "Israel" has yet to respond to the request and continues to intensify its operations.

US officials claim they are urging "Israel" to improve the "humanitarian situation" in Gaza, warning that military aid could be affected if conditions do not improve. Despite this, they continue to supply the regime with lethal weapons and munitions.

The US remains "Israel’s" largest arms supplier, with 69% of "Israel's" military imports coming from the US in 2023, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

US leaks still being investigated

In a separate matter, Austin addressed the recent US intelligence leak concerning "Israel." He confirmed that no one in his office has been named or is under investigation as part of the ongoing probe into the leak of highly classified documents last week.

The leaks in question involve highly sensitive documents from the American National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) regarding Israeli preparations for a potential strike on Iran.

The NGA, which focuses on collecting geospatial intelligence via satellite or aircraft for the US Department of Defense, produced the leaked documents, which detail Israeli military activities related to airstrikes on Iran.

The documents, published by Middle East Spectator, a Telegram channel focused on Middle Eastern news, were reportedly shared by an alleged whistleblower within the Pentagon.

Although the authenticity of the documents has not been confirmed, US officials, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, have acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and confirmed an ongoing investigation into the leak.

Marked as "Top Secret" and labeled "FVEY" (indicating they are only meant to be viewed by the US and its closest intelligence-sharing allies—the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand), the leaked documents describe Israeli Air Force preparations for a strike on Iran.

These preparations include large-force employment (LFE) exercises, air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) handling, and operations involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at Israeli airbases.

The documents also cover "Israel’s" nuclear and missile capabilities, including its handling of nuclear-capable missiles like the Jericho II, though no significant nuclear activity was recorded during the documented period.

The leak has sparked concerns within both US and Israeli defense circles. Former US defense official Mick Mulroy highlighted the potential damage to US-Israeli relations, warning that trust could be eroded if Israeli tactical plans have indeed been exposed.