U.S. defense secretary urges Israel to lower West Bank flames
Pentagon stressed that the U.S. defense chief is committed to Israel’s security
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during a call on Friday urged his Israeli counterpart, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to de-escalate the current violence and tension in Judea and Samaria, known as the West Bank.
Following the conversation, the Pentagon released an official statement confirming that Austin “encouraged the de-escalation of tensions in the West Bank, following a military raid this week that resulted in civilian casualties.”
The Pentagon further stressed that the U.S. defense chief is committed to Israel’s security.
“Secretary Austin underscored his steadfast commitment to Israel’s security, and to Israel’s right to defend its citizens from terrorism.”
The Pentagon added Austin and Gallant also discussed wider security challenges in the Middle East region.
At least eleven Arabs were killed last week in the city of Nablus during an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and armed Palestinian terrorists. The firefight erupted after members of the Lion’s Den terrorist organization refused to surrender to Israeli forces.
Gallant briefed his American counterpart on the Nablus military operation and stressed that it “foiled a terror cell responsible for shooting attacks in Israel and planning future attacks,” according to an IDF statement.
In addressing the Iranian nuclear threat, Gallant reportedly urged Austin to “increase operations to prevent a nuclear Iran.”
The Israeli defense chief reportedly said Jerusalem was “very disturbed by the continued enrichment of uranium… and emphasized the need and commitment to prevent Iran from having a nuclear capability.”
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
