Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke by phone on Tuesday about developments in the war against Hamas in Gaza and the conflict with Hezbollah on the Lebanese border.
The two men discussed ways to strengthen military cooperation between the two allies in response to a range of regional security threats, according to the Pentagon readout of the call.
“Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant reaffirmed the shared desire of ensuring the enduring defeat of Hamas and securing the safe release of all the hostages held captive by Hamas, including American citizens,” according to the readout.
Austin confirmed to Gallant that the temporary Gaza pier will soon cease operations. The $230 million floating dock has been beset by problems since operations began in May, with the U.S. military ultimately deciding to pull the plug.
“The Secretary stressed the importance of increasing the flow of humanitarian assistance through all land crossings and supporting aid deliveries to Ashdod Port in Israel for onward distribution in Gaza,” the Pentagon said.
For his part, Gallant detailed the recent strike targeting Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas’s terror army, calling him the “Osama bin Laden of Gaza,” according to the Israeli Defense Ministry readout of the call.
The minister also stressed the importance of the IDF operations in Gaza to securing the release of the hostages held by Hamas.
Gallant told Austin that “IDF operations in Gaza have led to the conditions necessary to achieve an agreement for the return of hostages, which is the highest moral imperative at this time.”
Austin was also updated on humanitarian efforts in Gaza, including the most recent order to build a temporary field hospital along the border to treat sick children.
On the northern front, Gallant emphasized the importance of returning evacuated residents to their homes, either by diplomatic or military means.
The two men also brought up the recent meeting between Israeli and U.S. officials in Washington to discuss the Iranian threat and “to further strengthen joint defense cooperation in the face of Iranian aggression.”
‘Israel will dismantle Hamas’
Also on Tuesday, Gallant briefed visiting U.S. Central Command Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla on the status of the conflicts against Hamas and Hezbollah.
Gallant updated Kurilla on the recent strike targeting Deif and Rafa’a Salameh, commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed on Sunday that Salameh was killed in the targeted airstrike in southern Gaza. Deif’s fate remains uncertain.
Gallant “emphasized Israel’s commitment to dismantling Hamas as a military and governing authority, including pursuing its senior leadership,” according to a statement from his office.
He also “discussed the northern arena and ongoing Hezbollah aggression, as well as Iranian attempts to destabilize the region via proxy attacks. In this regard, the minister emphasized the critical cooperation with the United States.”
Gallant reiterated the defense establishment’s “commitment to working with international partners to ensure the entry of critical humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
In June, Kurilla visited Israel at the invitation of IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. The two men held an operational situation assessment and discussed strengthening the strategic partnership against the Iranian threat, according to the Israeli military.
In January 2021, as part of the Trump administration’s adjustments to the Unified Command Plan, Israel was transferred from U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) to CENTCOM‘s area of responsibility
The move opened the door to Israeli security cooperation (e.g., exercises, military sales, operational planning) with U.S. regional allies and partners also in CENTCOM—specifically with moderate Arab states.
The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, were a vital precursor to the development.
Last month, Halevi met in Manama with senior military figures from Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt.
The meeting signaled continued military dialogue and cooperation between Israel and Arab countries despite the conflict in Gaza, and comes on the backdrop of the regional effort to thwart Iran’s destabilizing activities through its terror proxies in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and beyond.
