'Daunting' : the US Offers Israel Hostage Rescue Support
A Rescue Operation in Gaza Will Be High-Risk
Overt Operator
October 11, 2023
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin offered to provide the Israeli military with support for intelligence and planning, media reports explained.
Austin publicly stated that the US will help Israelis rescue hostages taken by the terrorist group Hamas following the large-scale incursion on October 7, a defense official told Task & Purpose on Tuesday.
In addition to Austin’s statements, on Wednesday, October 11, media reports explained the US has intentions to send "additional assets" to the region.
The Stakes
On Wednesday, analysts with the Associated Press predicted that, due to the tiny size of Gaza, and its dense population, rescuing hostages from the locale would be "daunting."
The Offer
The offer was strictly for assisting with assists, and, at the time of media reports, did not include helping launch a ground rescue.
Hamas launched an unprecedented terrorist attack on Israel on October 7. During the attack, and in the circumstances facilitated by it, more than 1,200 Israelis died and, at the time of the report, terrorists seized a then-unknown number of hostages, including women, children, and disabled people.
The terrorist group has also vowed to execute hostages every time an Israeli airstrike hits the Gaza Strip, where Hamas is based.
Austin made the offer of assistance to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The Defense secretary also told Joint Special Operations Command to “lean forward” with providing the Israel Defense Forces with official support.
U.S. Central Command and Special Operations Command are also offering to provide hostage rescue planning and intelligence support, the defense official said.
CNN was the first network to comment on Austin’s defense offer reportedly.
President Biden said on Tuesday that the U.S officials were certain Americans were among those taken hostage. However, President Biden had not, at that time, confirmed how many US nationals had been taken.
“I’ve directed my team to share intelligence and deploy additional experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts,” Biden explained, in a statement mad from the White House on Tuesday.
“Because as president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world."
On Tuesday, October 10, the John Kirby, the National Security Councilman, stated that both U.S. government and Israeli officials were working together to rescue hostages.
When asked by CNN anchor Phil Mattingly if Israel had accepted U.S. offers of assistance for intelligence and hostage rescue support, Kirby replied:
“Yeah, I think – Yes, it has Phil. The Israelis were grateful for that offer of assistance, and we are having those initial conversations with them right now,” Kirby stated on a broadcast.
Kirby did not specify who in the U.S. government is talking to the Israelis.
“Clearly, we’re going to do everything we can to help with this hostage crisis,” Kirby said.
Ongoing Efforts
Wednesday’s updates are part of ongoing relief operations. The United States has already sent Israel munitions and other equipment it needs, a senior official told reporters on Monday.
“Planes have already taken off, and we anticipate seeing continual delivery on some of the requests Israel has made,” the official said.
”We’re also contacting US industry to gain expedited shipment of pending Israeli orders for military equipment that otherwise may have been considered routine for movement.”