WASHINGTON – US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III called Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant to receive updates on the Israeli forces’ campaign to ensure Hamas will no longer be able to use Gaza to threaten Israel’s security, and to underscore his enduring support for Israel’s right to defend itself from terrorism, the US Department of Defense said in a press release.
He urged increased efforts to protect civilians in Gaza, increase delivery of humanitarian assistance, and curb extremist settler violence in the West Bank.
The Secretary, according to MENA, expressed concern over the cross-border exchanges between the Israeli forces and Lebanese Hizballah this week that resulted in the deaths of a Lebanese Armed Forces soldier and an Israeli civilian.
Finally, the Secretary condemned growing Houthi aggression in the Red Sea, which threatens freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce.
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