The U.S. played a crucial role in providing intelligence that led to the successful rescue of four hostages in Israel over the weekend, according to American and Israeli officials briefed on the operation.
A team of American hostage recovery officials stationed in Israel worked closely with the Israeli military to provide intelligence and logistical support for the rescue mission. The U.S. and U.K. intelligence teams have been assisting Israeli intelligence throughout the conflict, gathering and analyzing information related to the hostages, some of whom are citizens of both countries.
President Biden, speaking in Paris after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, expressed his satisfaction with the safe rescue of the hostages and reiterated the commitment to bringing all hostages home and achieving a cease-fire.
The Pentagon and the C.I.A. have been instrumental in providing information gathered from drone flights and other sources to pinpoint the location of hostages. This collaboration between the U.S., U.K., and Israel has been crucial in providing intelligence that Israel may not have been able to collect on its own.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan praised the rescue operation and emphasized the ongoing efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages. He highlighted the importance of the proposed cease-fire deal in bringing home the remaining hostages and providing security assurances for Israel.
While the American and British teams were not directly involved in the tactical planning or execution of the rescue operation, their intelligence support was deemed invaluable by both American and Israeli officials. The focus remains on locating hostages and targeting top Hamas leaders to bring an end to the conflict and ensure the safe return of all captives.
