Netanyahu Feared U.S. Opposition to Hezbollah Strike, Book Claims

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed concern that U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan would react with extreme disapproval to a planned operation targeting Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September 2024, according to reporting from the Wall Street Journal and insights from a book.

Netanyahu reportedly told senior Israeli defense officials that Sullivan would "jump out of his skin" if he learned of the assassination plot, a sentiment that underscored a growing divergence between Jerusalem and Washington regarding Israel's campaign against Iran-backed proxies. The Biden administration sought to prevent a wider regional conflict, while Israeli leadership prioritized eliminating threats.

At the time, then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi favored informing the Biden administration, believing U.S. officials might support a strike against Nasrallah, who was linked to the deaths of American service members. Netanyahu, however, feared Washington would attempt to block the mission.

Israel carried out an airstrike on Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut on September 27, 2024, a strike for which the Pentagon stated it had no advance warning. Gallant reportedly informed then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as the operation was already underway. The strike resulted in the death of Nasrallah, who had led Hezbollah for over three decades. This event marked a significant development in Israel's conflict with Hezbollah, which had initiated attacks on northern Israel on October 8, 2023, following the Hamas attacks.

According to Elliot Kaufman, co-author of "In the War Room: The Inside Story of Israel's Fight Against Hamas and the Iranian Axis," Israel had waited nearly a year for U.S. diplomacy to halt Hezbollah's attacks on its northern communities. Kaufman suggested that Israel's actions were driven by a need for a change on the northern front, contrasting with the U.S. goal of de-escalation.

The book also touches upon Netanyahu's initial reluctance to launch a full-scale ground invasion of Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. Kaufman noted that Netanyahu initially seemed hesitant due to the failures of October 7 but later became a strong proponent of continuing the war. Senior American generals had also cautioned Israeli leaders about the potential for military defeat in a ground invasion.

Netanyahu ultimately approved the ground operation on October 27, 2023, after weeks of internal deliberation. Kaufman stated that Netanyahu has not taken personal responsibility for the events of October 7, often attributing blame to military officials for not alerting him earlier.

Further controversy emerged regarding the official timeline of Netanyahu's actions on the morning of the attack. Retired Maj. Gen. Avi Gil, Netanyahu's former military secretary, alleged that an attempt was made to alter the recorded time of a call between Gil and Netanyahu. While Netanyahu's Likud party dismissed the claim, prosecutors have not yet closed the investigation.

Gil also suggested that opportunities to secure hostage agreements earlier in the conflict may have been missed due to political considerations, influenced by far-right ministers in Netanyahu's coalition. Kaufman, however, challenged the notion that political survival was Netanyahu's sole motivation, pointing to strategic objectives pursued later in the war.

The book also details how Israel's early military actions against Iran reportedly influenced President Donald Trump's decision to authorize U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir is said to have directly urged Vice President JD Vance to leverage the opportunity created by Israeli airstrikes to strike Iran's nuclear sites, a move that Vance reportedly helped secure Trump's final authorization for.

Jake Sullivan's office did not respond to requests for comment by the deadline.