US Citizens Among the Casualties in Israeli conflict: President Biden

Washington
CNN
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Eleven US citizens have died in the ongoing conflict in Israel, according to President Joe Biden. The President also stated that an unknown number of American citizens are still missing.

In a statement, President Biden expressed his condolences and declared that the tragedy has a deep impact on the American families who have close ties with Israel. He confirmed that at least 11 American citizens were killed in the attacks, many of whom considered Israel as their second home.

President Biden also addressed the issue of American citizens potentially being held hostage by Hamas. He stated that it is “likely” that some American citizens are among the hostages and assured that his administration is working closely with Israeli officials in handling the hostage crisis.

The President also mentioned that there are American citizens whose whereabouts are still unknown and efforts are being made to locate them.

President Biden emphasized the personal nature of the attacks for many American families, considering the historical impact of antisemitism and persecution faced by Jewish people. He acknowledged the deep-rooted ties between the US and Israel and expressed his solidarity with those affected by the assault.

According to State Department spokesman Matt Miller, the US authorities are actively engaged with Israeli officials and the families of the affected American citizens to provide necessary support and assistance.

Efforts are underway to determine the exact number of American casualties and hostages in the conflict. Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed that the US is working tirelessly to verify reports of missing and deceased Americans. Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer also acknowledged the presence of Americans among the hostages held by Hamas.

The US is offering intelligence support and special operations planning assistance to Israel in their efforts to rescue the hostages. However, this support does not involve the deployment of US troops on the ground. Instead, it primarily focuses on intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

US Central Command, US Special Operations Command, and Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) are all contributing to this assistance, ensuring the development of effective tactics and plans.

Qatar has been actively involved in negotiations with Hamas regarding the American hostages. The US administration has been working closely with the Qatari government, leveraging their role as a key mediator with Hamas. CNN has reached out to the governments of Qatar and Israel for comment.

The US government, including the White House and State Department officials, has maintained constant communication with the Qatari authorities throughout the weekend to coordinate efforts involving Hamas.

In addition to intelligence support, the US has pledged to provide further military assistance to Israel in the coming days. However, the timely response may be impeded by political hurdles within the US. The support includes the deployment of the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean as a deterrence measure, along with other naval assets.

The promotion of the commander of the US Navy’s 5th fleet, responsible for naval operations in the Middle East region, is currently on hold due to political concerns, affecting the chain of command.

The Biden administration faces challenges in providing swift assistance as the role of the acting Speaker of the House is limited. The administration intends to utilize the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the rapid dispatch of weapons from existing stocks, to provide immediate aid. However, additional funding from Congress may be required to support this effort.

This story has been updated with additional reporting and background information.

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