US 'fusion cells' played key role in Israeli tracking of Sinwar: NYT
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The intelligence collaboration between the US and "Israel" has been seamless, with two US groups — one in "Israel" and the other at the CIA’s headquarters — regularly exchanging information and strategic insights.
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Israeli soldiers lode a tank onto a truck on the separation line with Gaza, as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (AP)
US Special Operations forces have used at least six MQ-9 Reaper drones to aid "Israel" in locating captives, monitoring signs of life, and relaying potential intelligence to Israeli forces, US officials told the New York Times.
Just days after Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, the Pentagon discreetly sent dozens of US commandos to provide Israeli forces with critical support and guidance in the effort related to captive recovery, US officials claimed.
These operatives from the Joint Special Operations Command were soon joined by intelligence officers, with some embedded alongside Israeli forces in the field, while others worked from CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia.
For over a year, much of the attention and criticism around US support for "Israel" has focused on the US-made bombs and weapons used by "Israel" to strike Gaza. However, the intelligence assistance provided to "Israel" has also been crucial.
Officials further said that American intelligence helped locate the four captives that were recovered by Israeli forces in June.
Read more: Drone from Lebanon targets, hits Netanyahu's residence in Caesarea
Tracking down senior Hamas figures
Since the early days of the war, US military and intelligence cells have focused not only on searching for captives but also on tracking and targeting senior Hamas leaders, the report says.
Throughout the war in Gaza, senior officials revealed that US "fusion cells" — specialized units combining military and intelligence expertise — have adapted their focus based on the latest actionable intelligence.
The intelligence collaboration between the US and "Israel" has been seamless, with the two US groups — one in "Israel" and the other at the CIA’s headquarters — regularly exchanging information and strategic insights.
While US officials have kept many details about the intelligence provided under wraps, they have confirmed that six MQ-9 Reaper drones, operated by US Special Operations forces, have been flying missions aimed at locating captives, monitoring human activity, and relaying valuable data to Israeli forces on the ground.
Although the drones cannot map Hamas’ extensive underground tunnel network, their infrared radar has been instrumental in detecting the heat signatures of people entering or exiting these tunnels.
Ultimately, it was an Israeli unit on patrol in southern Gaza that located and killed martyr Sinwar. While the operation was conducted solely by Israeli forces, American officials have emphasized that US intelligence played a significant role in narrowing down Sinwar’s location.
Read more: Biden: 'Israel'-Lebanon ceasefire easier to achieve than Gaza deal
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
