"In the last few days, we inflicted on Hezbollah a sequence of blows that they could not imagine."
"Firing an experienced defense minister like Gallant in the middle of a war in Gaza and possibly before a war in Lebanon would be a crazy move," a US official said.
The larger counterterrorism operation was conducted by IDF, Israel Security Authority, and Israel Prison Service forces.
The Iranian regime is much more vulnerable than it would like to appear. Its air defenses are relatively weak. Its ability to carry out successful long-range aerial attacks is currently limited.
According to a statement from Austin's office, the deployment of these aircraft "symbolizes the extensive efforts to curb Iranian aggression.
Austin stressed that the United States “remains intensely focused on de-escalating tensions in the region,” he said.
“We remain concerned about the potential of this escalating into a full fight. And I don't believe that a fight is inevitable,” US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said.
Hamas has reiterated its call for a full ceasefire, while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with US officials, including counterpart Lloyd Austin to discuss phases of the war.
“We are urgently seeking a diplomatic agreement that restores lasting calm to Israel's northern border and enables civilians to return safely to their homes," Austin said.
Austin told Gallant, “We stand together to ensure that Iran, which is the source of so much of the region's violence and instability, can never achieve a nuclear weapon."
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