US defense chief urges Israel to plan for ‘transitioning to next phase’ of Gaza war

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Israeli leaders during meetings today to plan for “transitioning to the next phase of operations,” his office reveals in a readout.

The message appears to go a bit further than Austin did during a press conference earlier today when he asserted that the US was not “dictating timelines or terms” regarding the war in Gaza.

Austin also asserted during his meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the war cabinet that “more action is urgently needed” by Israel to combat settler violence, the Pentagon readout says, as the US continues to hone in on this message.

The defense secretary “shared his view that Hezbollah forces should move away from the border with Israel and cease attacks so that Israeli communities can return to their homes,” the readout adds.