Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the US supports Israel’s “right to defend itself” with its ground invasion of Lebanon — while vowing “serious consequences” for Iran if it attacks the Jewish state.
The Pentagon chief said he spoke to his Israeli defense counterpart, Yoav Gallant, late Monday when he was briefed on Israel starting “targeted ground raids” against Hezbollah overnight.
“I made it clear that the United States supports Israel’s right to defend itself,” Austin said in a statement on X following his call with Gallant.
“We agreed on the necessity of dismantling attack infrastructure along the border to ensure that Lebanese Hezbollah cannot conduct October 7-style attacks on Israel’s northern communities.”
Lloyd added the US was “well-postured” to defend its allies from Iranian threats: “I reiterated the serious consequences for Iran in the event Iran chooses to launch a direct military attack against Israel.”
His remarks came as the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of nearly two dozen Lebanese communities near the border early Tuesday — just hours after launching what it called “targeted ground raids” against Hezbollah targets in villages.
The targets posed an “immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel,” the Israel Defense Forces said.
The scope of the incursion wasn’t immediately clear.
Israel said, however, that intense fighting had already erupted with Hezbollah in south Lebanon in the wake of the raids.
Israel has already indicated it is primed for a full-fledged invasion of Lebanon with the stated aim of enabling thousands of its citizens who fled Hezbollah rockets to safely return to their communities near the northern border.
In a video statement released to media Tuesday, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a military spokesperson, said troops were operating against Hezbollah to ensure that those Israeli citizens could return safely to their homes.
Meanwhile, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had issued a warning to Iran Monday: “There is nowhere in the Middle East Israel cannot reach.”
The incursion follows weeks of heavy blows by Israel against Hezbollah — including an airstrike south of Beirut last week that killed its longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
With Post wires
