US defense secretary discusses security developments with Israeli counterpart
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant hold a news conference at Ben Gurion airport in Lod, Israel, March 9, 2023. (Reuters Photo)
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday that he spoke with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant on security developments and Israeli operations.
“I made it clear that the United States supports Israel’s right to defend itself. We agreed on the necessity of dismantling attack infrastructure along the border to ensure that Lebanese Hezbollah cannot conduct Oct. 7-style attacks on Israel’s northern communities,” Austin said on X.
The phone call came after the Israeli military said in a statement that it had begun “limited, localized and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence” against Hezbollah in villages in southern Lebanon close to the border that posed “an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.”
Austin reaffirmed that a diplomatic resolution is required to ensure that civilians can return safely to their homes on both sides of the border.
He also made clear that the U.S. is “well-postured to defend U.S. personnel, partners and allies in the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organizations and determined to prevent any actor from exploiting tensions or expanding the conflict.”
“I reiterated the serious consequences for Iran in the event Iran chooses to launch a direct military attack against Israel,” he added.
