Pentagon chief calls on Gallant ‘to contain the conflict to Gaza’

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant again speaks with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin amid the ongoing war between Israel and Gaza-ruling Hamas terror group.

According to a Pentagon readout, Austin “reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defense and reiterated the importance of both protecting civilians and delivering humanitarian relief.”

“[Austin] emphasized the need to contain the conflict to Gaza and avoid regional escalation,” the statement adds, following further exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah.

It isn’t immediately clear whether this is a new warning to Israel or whether it’s another variation of the US talking point about cautioning other parties from entering the war against Israel — a stance that Jerusalem has long backed.