US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant regarding the threat posed by Hezbollah, the Pentagon says.
A readout from Austin’s office says the two spoke about Israel’s response to Lebanese Hezbollah’s July 27 attack on Israel, which killed twelve children in a soccer field.
“They discussed the threats to Israel posed by a range of Iranian-backed terrorist groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah,” the readout says without referring to last night’s Israeli strike that killed a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut and the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, an operation also blamed on Israel.
“Secretary Austin reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and right to self-defense. They also discussed ongoing efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution that enables citizens on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border to safely return to their homes,” the statement says.
There is no immediate readout from the Israeli side.
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From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
