Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday that Israel would respond directly to any attack by Iran.
“A direct Iranian attack will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran,” Gallant told U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, according to remarks issued by his office.
The Pentagon said the two discussed the United States’ “iron-clad” commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies.
“Echoing President Biden’s unequivocal message to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Secretary Austin assured Minister Gallant that Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, which Tehran has publicly threatened,” the Pentagon said.
It added that a visit by the top U.S. general for the Middle East, Army General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, to Israel had been moved up so he could meet with Israeli military leadership and discuss “current security threats.” Kurilla has been travelling to Israel regularly in recent months.
The United States expects an attack by Iran against Israel but one that would not be big enough to draw Washington into war, a U.S. official said late on Thursday.
The White House said earlier Washington did not want conflict to spread in the Middle East and the U.S. had told Iran it was not involved in an air strike against a top Iranian military commander in Damascus. The White House said it warned Iran to not use that attack as a pretext to escalate further in the region.
(Reuters)military response. Israeli response, Iranian attack, U.S. support
