Israeli ministers frustrated by US and IDF leaks on Operation Lebanon invasion: report

Ministers in Israel's Political Security Cabinet agreed on an operational strategy for Israel's “limited” invasion of Lebanon in the early hours of Tuesday morning local time, but tensions were high after officials were reportedly frustrated by news of the operation It was leaked hours earlier that they even met.

An unnamed U.S. security official confirmed to Fox News and other media outlets Monday morning that a “limited” invasion of Lebanon was imminent. And when later asked about it by reporters, President Biden appeared to confirm the claims, saying, “I'm more aware of it than you probably know.”

However, when asked if he was happy with the operational plans, he said: “I agree with them stopping. We should have a ceasefire now.”

Israel launches limited ground operations in Lebanon as the war against Hezbollah and terrorist groups continues

Similarly, later in the day, spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters during a US State Department press briefing: “They have briefed us on a number of operations.”

“They have told us at this point that these are limited operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the border. However, we are in constant discussions with them about this,” he added.

It is unclear whether Miller was discussing future or ongoing operations, as reports surfaced earlier Monday suggesting that Israeli special forces have been involved in cross-border raids for months.

President Joe Biden speaks to reporters as he leaves the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington after discussing federal response efforts for Hurricane Helene, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Fox News Digital was unable to confirm which Israeli ministers were frustrated or who specifically in the United States their anger was directed at.

However, according to local media outlet YNET News, Israeli ministers were reportedly frustrated with more than just U.S. officials with whom they were dissatisfied.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also caused anger after an IDF spokesman reportedly referred to the operation in advance of the ministerial debate, although local reporting appeared to have been updated at the request of IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, who called outlets not to report on “rumors.”

Smoke rises over Beirut's southern suburbs following an attack, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon, October 1, 2024. (REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)

Israel's ground invasion of Lebanon is imminent as the Cabinet approves the next phase of the war

“In the last few hours there have been many reports and rumors about IDF activities on the Lebanese border. We ask that no reports about the activities of the armed forces be disseminated,” Hagari said on X ahead of the ministerial meeting.

“Stick only to the official reports and do not spread irresponsible rumors,” he added.

An IDF tank fires during exercises near the Lebanese border, September 30, 2024 (IDF Spokesperson Unit)

However, after the meeting, the IDF released a statement confirming that the IDF had begun “limited, localized and targeted ground strikes based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon.”

“These targets are located in villages near the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel,” the IDF added.

Israeli shelling hit an area in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel, on Monday, September 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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Sources told Fox News earlier on Monday that the operation would be “limited” in scope and faster than the operation Israel conducted in Lebanon in 2006, which lasted 34 days and left about 1,191 dead and 4,409 injured, a third of them women and children. Israel also reported that 43 civilians were killed and 997 were injured.

Axios previously reported that Israel did not inform the US in advance about the exploding beepers. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reportedly called Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin when the pagers began exploding in Lebanon. After the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters: “The United States was not involved in the Israeli operation” and noted that there was “no advance warning” from the Israelis.

The State Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.