US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin discussed measures taken to ensure the security of the occupying state of Israel, including changes to the future defense posture of US forces in the Middle East, in a phone call with Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, which is considered a terrorist state The conversation was announced by Deputy Spokesperson Sabrina Singh at the Pentagon’s daily press briefing.
Singh noted that Secretary Austin had discussed important issues “related to the destabilizing threat posed by Iran and its proxies” in his meeting with Israel’s Defense Minister Gallant this morning. Singh said Austin reiterated to Gallant his “unwavering support” for Israel’s security and that the Pentagon had also briefed Gallant on additional measures to bolster Israel’s defenses, including “future defense force posture changes.”
Austin also stressed to Gallant that further escalation in the region was “not inevitable” and that all countries in the region could benefit from a reduction in tensions, including a full ceasefire and a hostage release agreement.
Security Measures and Ceasefire Process
“No, we are strengthening our capabilities for Israel’s defense, and that is a defensive approach in nature,” Singh said, responding to a reporter’s question: “Isn’t this strengthening of Israel’s defenses a kind of reward to Israel for destabilizing the ceasefire “process that the US wants to continue?”
Singh said Secretary Austin will reorient force postures across the region to enhance security for US forces, ensure increased support for the defense of the occupying force, and ensure that the US is prepared to effectively respond to the evolving crisis in the region. However, Singh did not elaborate on which military assets would be deployed to the region and when, saying, “That is a matter for Secretary Austin to decide.”
On the other hand, the New York Times (NYT) newspaper, citing US military officials, announced this morning that the US is preparing to send additional warplanes to the Middle East following threats by Iran and its proxies to attack occupying Israel in response to a possible assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Haniyeh.
