According to US Defense Secretary Austin, the US will “continue” to equip Israel
On Monday, Pentagon director Lloyd Austin said that the US would provide Israel’s military additional weapons and armaments as they fight Palestinian terrorists in Gaza after many fatal assaults.
Austin also issued a warning to Iran to “stop” arming the Huthi rebels in Yemen, who since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7 have been assaulting more and more ships in the Red Sea.
According to a statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office, the US defense secretary said, “We’ll continue to provide Israel with the equipment that you need to defend your country… including critical munitions, tactical vehicles, and air defense systems.”
We are in charge of an international maritime task force in the Red Sea that aims to protect the fundamental right to freedom of navigation. Austin said, “Iran must stop supporting Huthi attacks on commercial vessels.”
He added that a global coalition was being formed to deal with the problem.
“This is an international problem, and it deserves an international response,” Austin said.
He said, “To address this threat, that’s why I’m convening a ministerial meeting tomorrow, a virtual meeting with fellow ministers in the region and beyond.”
The Huthi rebels claimed earlier on Monday that, in support of Gaza, they had assaulted two “Israeli-linked” ships in the Red Sea.
The latest in a string of maritime events that are impeding international commerce in an effort to put pressure on Israel for its war against Hamas terrorists are the assaults on the Norwegian-owned Swan Atlantic and another ship that the Huthis have identified as the MSC Clara.
