Yoav Gallant is a veteran Israeli politician, currently part of the Likud Party, and is Israel's current defense minister.
He has an extensive background in the IDF and was at one point a top candidate to become chief of staff.
Multiple times, the US has urged Israel to act less aggressively or not to take certain actions against Hezbollah, to avoid a larger regional war.
Defense Minister Gallant and Finance Minister Smotrich praised Netanyahu's UN speech, while hostage mother Zangauker criticized him for failing to secure hostages.
The Pentagon said it is assessing the event, but had no additional information or specifics to provide at this time.
The additional $5.2 billion is focused on defense, including the Iron Dome, David's Sling, and an advanced laser system.
"We continue to eliminate Hezbollah terrorists, dismantle offensive infrastructure, and destroy rockets and missiles." Gallant said.
There are thousands of American citizens in Lebanon, and a further escalation of the situation towards an all-out war could lead to an American decision to evacuate.
Hezbollah has been significantly harmed, with the IDF enhancing readiness and offensive plans to ensure northern Israel's safety.
"In the last few days, we inflicted on Hezbollah a sequence of blows that they could not imagine."
It was reported this week that the prime minister had been in advanced talks with Sa'ar to replace Gallant in the near future.
Israel ramps up its response to Hezbollah and Houthi threats with strategic escalations, exploding devices, and a bold shift in defense strategy, signaling a new phase in the ongoing conflict.
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