U.S. Defense Secretary Emphasizes Need to Curb Escalation to Israeli Counterpart

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a phone conversation with Israeli counterpart Yoav Galant, emphasized the need to prevent further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. The Pentagon stated: "There was a conversation between the defense ministers of the United States and Israel today, Saturday, and Austin affirmed 'Israel's right to self-defense,' stressing the necessity of protecting civilians and providing humanitarian aid." He noted that "it is crucial to prevent the conflict from spreading beyond [the Gaza Strip] and to avoid escalation in the region."