Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday briefed his American counterpart Lloyd Austin on “the IDF’s precision strikes on military targets in Iran, in response to Iran’s attacks against the State of Israel over the past months.”
Further, Gallant “discussed initial assessments regarding the success of the strikes against missile manufacturing facilities, surface-to-air missile arrays and Iranian aerial capabilities.”
The minister thanked Austin for the “unwavering support” from the United States “for Israel’s defense against Iranian aggression,” mentioning the recent deployment in Israel of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Defense (THAAD) aerial-defense system.
“The Minister and Secretary further discussed the importance of maintaining deterrence against Iran and its proxies in the region,” the Defense Ministry readout stated.
“Minister Gallant also discussed the strategic opportunities that have risen as a result of operational achievements, in both the northern and southern arenas. In this regard, the Minister emphasized his commitment to achieving the goals of this war—including the return of 101 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and ensuring the safe return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes,” according to the readout.
