Yoav Gallant spoke with Lloyd Austin, addressing the security tension while awaiting Iran and Hezbollah’s response to Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination

i24NEWS

i24NEWS

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A U.S. Navy fighter jet lands on the deck of the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier.
A U.S. Navy fighter jet lands on the deck of the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier.AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File

Major General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon spokesperson, announced early Monday that the US will send a ballistic missile submarine to the Middle East, and ordered to expedite the arrival of an aircraft carrier to bolster military forces amid an expected attack against Israel by Iran and its proxies.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ahead of the deployment, with a US statement affirming their “commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel.”

“Secretary Austin has ordered the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group, equipped with F-35C fighters, to accelerate its transit to the Central Command area of responsibility, adding to the capabilities already provided by the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT Carrier Strike Group. Additionally, the Secretary has ordered the USS Georgia (SSGN 729) guided missile submarine to the Central Command region.”

The two also discussed ongoing operations in the Gaza Strip, efforts to mitigate civilian casualties, and “progress towards securing a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza.”

Joint efforts “to deter aggression by Iran, Lebanese Hizballah, and other Iran-aligned groups across the region” are being made after Tehran blamed Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital. 

Gallant also released a statement thanking the US for its support, as well as urgency surrounding the ceasefire deal and hostage release talks.