The Pentagon stated on Monday that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant spoke in a call about developments in the Middle East. According to a statement from the Pentagon, Austin spoke with Galant "to reaffirm the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel's security in the face of threats from Iran, Hezbollah, and other militias allied with Tehran."
The statement added that "Austin and Galant agreed that any attack by Iran-aligned militants on U.S. forces in Iraq constitutes a serious escalation and demonstrates Iran's destabilizing role in the region." The statement concluded that Austin "provided an update on measures aimed at enhancing U.S. military posture in the region in light of the escalating situation."
Earlier, a Pentagon spokesperson announced that several Americans were injured in a missile attack on the "Ain al-Asad" military base in Iraq on Monday. The spokesperson clarified that "what is believed to be a missile attack occurred today against U.S. and coalition forces at Ain al-Asad base in Iraq. Initial indicators suggest that several Americans were injured."
