US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says the Pentagon does not “see an all-out conflict between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah” breaking out.
Austin is asked at a press conference about US strikes on Iran-backed groups enflaming the region.
“Our goal is to make sure that we contain this crisis in Gaza and that we prevent things from spreading to a wider conflict. There’s a lot of activity in the region, but there’s always been a lot of activity in the region,” he says.
He says that management of tensions between Israel and Hezbollah “has been artfully done.”
“We don’t see Israel engaged in a conflict with other countries in the region,” he adds. “We are not at war with Iran.”
Nonetheless, he says the Middle East is at a “dangerous moment.”
Austin also confirms plans for a “multi-tiered” response to a deadly attack on US troops, saying the US can strike multiple times if needed.
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Thursday, February 1, 2024
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