INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
United States is taking additional measures to support the defence of Israel
Photo: pexels3 min read Last Updated : Aug 04 2024 | 7:46 AM IST
Amid escalating tension between Israel and Hezbollah, US Defence
Secretary Lloyd Austin held talks with Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant about the threats posed by Iran and other Iranian-backed
terrorist groups.
Lloyd Austin stated that the United States is taking additional measures to support the defence of Israel, adding that
further conflict is not necessary and that all parties would benefit from a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
"Yesterday I spoke with
Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant about the threats posed by Iran, Lebanese Hizballah, and other Iranian-backed terrorist groups
I informed the Minister that we are taking additional measures to support the defence of Israel, to include multiple forthcoming force
posture moves," Austin said in a post on X.
"I also highlighted that further escalation is not inevitable, and all parties would benefit
from de-escalation, including though completing a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal," he added.
Meanwhile, Vice President of
Republicans Overseas and Chairman of Republicans Overseas Israel Marc Zell shared a post on X in which he issued a warning to residents who
have not evacuated to limit their movement until further notice.
"11:02 pm tonight: the Upper Galilee Regional Council after consultation
with the IDF has warned the residents of all communities who have not evacuated to restrict their movement tonight, avoid any large
gatherings and stay close to bomb shelters until further notice," Marc Zell said on X.
On Saturday, the US issued an alert, calling its
citizens to "book any ticket available" to leave Lebanon.
The US Embassy in Lebanon, in its advisory, has called for US citizens who
choose not to depart Lebanon to "prepare contingency plans for emergency situations."
"The US Embassy notes several airlines have
suspended or cancelled flights, and many flights have sold out; however, commercial transportation options to leave Lebanon remain available
Please see available flight options at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport
We encourage those who wish to depart Lebanon to book any ticket available to them, even if that flight does not depart immediately or does
not follow their first-choice route," the US Embassy in Lebanon wrote in its advisory.
"US citizens who lack funds to return to the United
States may contact the embassy for financial assistance via repatriation loans
We recommend that US citizens who choose not to depart Lebanon prepare contingency plans for emergency situations and be prepared to shelter
in place for an extended period of time," it further stated.(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the
Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)First Published: Aug 04 2024 | 7:46 AMIST
