Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has postponed his meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Washington, as reported by the Pentagon. The meeting, which was scheduled to take place at the Pentagon, was intended to discuss security developments in the Middle East amidst escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The postponement of the visit was communicated to the Pentagon by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, although the exact reasons for the cancellation were not disclosed.
Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated that Secretary Austin was looking forward to hosting Minister Gallant and that they would work on rescheduling the visit for a later date. Despite the postponement, Singh mentioned that Austin and Gallant are maintaining constant communication, with the hope of meeting soon.
It remains unclear how long Gallant’s visit will be delayed, but Singh noted that discussions between Gallant and Austin could potentially take place over the phone in the coming days or weeks. The canceled visit follows a recent missile strike by Iran on Israel, prompting concerns of further escalation in the region. President Biden, along with other G7 leaders, has expressed the need for restraint to prevent a dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliation.
Biden emphasized Israel’s right to respond but urged them to do so in proportion to avoid further escalation. The situation in the Middle East continues to be closely monitored by global leaders, with efforts being made to prevent further conflict.
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