U.S. personnel based at the embassy in Jerusalem have been focused on these efforts since the Gaza war began in October
The United States provided some intelligence that contributed to the rescue Saturday of four Israeli hostages, according to several people familiar with the matter.
A U.S. team based in Israel provided the information, these people said, although it appeared to be secondary to intelligence gathered by the Israelis prior to the operation. One of the sources indicated that the U.S. material included aerial imagery. All spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the operation.
That team, composed of special operations and intelligence personnel working out of the embassy in Jerusalem, has been in Israel since the war began in October. Since then, it has shared with its Israeli counterparts information on the possible location of the hostages obtained from U.S. drone surveillance over Gaza, communications intercepts and other sources, the people familiar with the matter said.
“The United States is supporting all efforts to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas, including U.S. citizens,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement. He noted that this work includes ongoing negotiations and “other means.”
Axios and the New York Times also reported on U.S. involvement in the rescue operation.
Hamas and other militants took approximately 250 hostages in the midst of their cross-border assault on Israel on Oct. 7, an attack that left 1,200 dead. At least 112 have been released, either under an agreement negotiated between Israel and Hamas late last year or through coordinated rescue operations.
Of the hostages remaining in Gaza, fewer than 80 are believed to be alive. Eight U.S. citizens are believed to be among those still held captive, including the remains of three who have died.
Saturday’s daytime mission was part of a wider Israeli operation in central Gaza that local health officials said left at least 210 Palestinians dead. Israeli officials described the rescue operation as weeks in the making and made possible by “accurate intelligence.” Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, said two buildings were targeted and personnel involved were shot.
Days after the Gaza war began, the Pentagon acknowledged that a “small number” of U.S. military personnel were at the embassy in Jerusalem to assist the Israeli government through planning and intelligence support.
U.S. intelligence analysts are also assisting Israeli officials in part of their work to map the extensive network of tunnels Hamas has built under Gaza, bringing powerful analytical technologies that fuse bits of information, according to officials with knowledge of that work.
U.S. defense officials have said that while U.S. military personnel have been advising the Israelis, they have not accompanied Israel’s military on any missions in the Gaza Strip. President Biden has insisted that he will not put “boots on the ground” there.