Tensions between the Biden administration and the Israeli government have escalated in recent weeks, with US officials expressing growing distrust over the Israeli occupation's military and diplomatic actions in light of its aggression on Lebanon and Gaza.

According to four US officials speaking to Axios, the trust deficit has been magnified by the planned attack on Iran which comes in the wake of its own Operation True Promise 2, itself a retaliatory strike against the Israeli occupation, which poses significant risks for US forces and interests in the region.

While the US is not opposed to the Israeli occupation attacking Iran, it is pressing for a measured approach. One US official commented, "Our trust of the Israelis is very low right now, and for good reason," as reported by Axios.

In a call last Friday, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan urged Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer to provide "clarity and transparency" on the plans to attack Iran. This request stems from concerns about potential fallout, including Iranian retaliation, which could directly impact US personnel stationed in the region.

According to Axios's Barak Ravid, US officials have stressed that while they would likely support an attack on Iran, the amount of trust it has in its decision-making process has decreased exponentially.

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The Biden administration has reportedly been caught off guard by several recent Israeli actions. On multiple occasions, Israeli military or intelligence operations were launched without prior consultation or notification. In some cases, US officials were only informed after Israeli jets were already en route for airstrikes.

Catching the US off-guard

One such incident involved the occupation's plan to assassinate Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which took place days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured President Biden that progress was being made toward a deal with Hamas for the release of captives in Gaza.

Another such incident occured when Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant notified US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin about an operation to assassinate Hezbollah Secreteray-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut mere minutes before it was carried out. Austin was reportedly furious, viewing the last-minute notice as a breach of trust, as it left the Pentagon unable to protect US forces in the region.

Netanyahu also further stoked tensions with Washington when he reversed course on a US-led ceasefire initiative in Lebanon. After initially signaling support for the initiative, Israeli officials backtracked, prompting frustration from the Biden administration. The Israeli premier later claimed the misunderstanding was due to a miscommunication about the timing and scope of the ceasefire.

More recently, US officials raised alarm over an Israeli order for Palestinians in northern Gaza to evacuate to the South. Washington expressed concerns that this could be a precursor to an Israeli siege and could result in the permanent displacement of Palestinians, a potential violation of international and US laws.

While the Israeli occupaiton has assured the US that the evacuation is part of a "temporary military operation," skepticism remains. As one US official put it, "They tell us what we want to hear—the problem is lack of trust."

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