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xinhua news agency, beijing, september 28 (xinhua) the u.s. government denied on the 27th that the united states was involved in or knew about the air strikes launched by the israeli army against the leadership of hezbollah in lebanon, and at the same time ordered adjustments to the u.s. military posture in the middle east.

　　pentagondeputy spokesperson sabrina singer said: "the united states was not involved in this operation and did not receive advance notice (from israel)."

u.s. president joseph biden also said later that the united states "had no knowledge of (israel's) actions and was not involved" and was currently "gathering information."

singer said that "the (israeli military) operation had already begun" when u.s. defense secretary lloyd austin spoke with israeli defense minister yoyav galante on his way back from the uk.

the israel defense forces earlier announced that it had carried out a "precision strike" on the lebanese hezbollah's "central headquarters" in the southern suburbs of beirut. israeli media quoted israeli military sources as saying that the target of the israeli air strike was hezbollah leader said hassan nasrallah.

hezbollah has not yet released information on nasrallah's condition. multiple iranian media reported that nasrallah was safe and sound, citing hezbollah sources. agence france-presse and reuters also reported that nasrallah was safe, citing hezbollah personnel as sources.

after the air strike on "hezbollah headquarters", the israeli army also bombed many residential buildings in beirut, claiming that the target was hezbollah's underground weapons depot.

the israeli military said that several hezbollah commanders were killed in the latest round of air strikes, including the commander of hezbollah's missile force.

the iranian government strongly condemned this round of air strikes by the israeli military. iranian foreign minister abbas araghchi said at the united nations security council meeting that the israeli army used a 2,000-kilogram earth-penetrating bomb made by the united states and that the united states was "complicit in this crime." the iranian embassy in lebanon said on social media that the air strike "represents a dangerous escalation that changes the rules of the game" and that israel will "be punished accordingly."

the white house said on the 27th that biden ordered the pentagon to "make necessary assessments and adjustments to the u.s. military posture in the middle east to ensure (the u.s. military's) deterrence, protection, and support for various u.s. goals." biden also asked u.s. embassies and consulates in the middle east to "take all appropriate protective measures." (hui xiaoshuang)