U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to receive briefings on Israeli operations against Iranian military positions, the Pentagon reported on Friday.
In the conversation, Austin reiterated the “unbreakable commitment” of the United States to Israel’s security and its right to self-defense, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder noted in a statement.
This call followed Israel’s announcement early Saturday of “precise operations” targeting “military installations” in Iran, with reports of explosions in Tehran.
Austin highlighted the U.S.’s bolstered military posture to protect American personnel, Israel, and allies across the region against threats from Iran and Iran-aligned terrorist groups, emphasizing the U.S. resolve to prevent any actor from escalating the regional conflict, Ryder added.
Previously, the U.S. stated that Israel’s targeted operations against Iranian sites were acts of self-defense in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel on October 1.
The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had been briefed on the strikes.
“The U.S. was informed beforehand, but there was no American involvement,” stated a U.S. defense official.
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