٠٠:٠١:١٢Mandatory credit: GPO
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stressed Israel's readiness 'for any action that may be required' in Gaza, Lebanon and elsewhere, speaking to the press in Lod on Saturday before leaving for an official visit to Washington at the invitation of Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
"I will meet in the United States the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State and other senior officials of the American government," he said. "In these meetings, I will discuss the situation on the Gaza front, and on the Lebanon front - they are of crucial importance at this time".
The visit coincides with recent tensions sparked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's allegations that the US is delaying arms deliveries to Israel. The Biden administration has denied these claims, saying there is no withholding or delaying of arms shipments to Israel.
"The United States is our most important and central ally and our ties are especially important, perhaps more than ever, these days," stressed the Israeli Defence Minister.
"The transition to Phase III in the Gaza Strip is of great importance. I will discuss with the senior officials of the US administration about this transition, about how it can also enable other things," said Gallant. "I know that we will reach close cooperation between Israel and the United States on this issue as well".
This also follows the IDF's announcement on Wednesday of the elimination of Muhammad Ayoub, described as a 'key Hezbollah operative', in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Hezbollah said on Sunday that its fighters had carried out a drone strike on a military command post at the Beit Hillel barracks in response to what it described as an Israeli assassination in the town of Khiara, according to media reports.
Cross-border shelling between Israel and Hezbollah has been ongoing since after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas.
Palestinian officials reported that at least 37,000 people had been killed and more than 85,000 injured at the time of publication.
'Prepared for any action that may be required' - Israel’s DefMin Gallant heads to US following DefSec Austin invitation
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stressed Israel's readiness 'for any action that may be required' in Gaza, Lebanon and elsewhere, speaking to the press in Lod on Saturday before leaving for an official visit to Washington at the invitation of Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
"I will meet in the United States the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State and other senior officials of the American government," he said. "In these meetings, I will discuss the situation on the Gaza front, and on the Lebanon front - they are of crucial importance at this time".
The visit coincides with recent tensions sparked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's allegations that the US is delaying arms deliveries to Israel. The Biden administration has denied these claims, saying there is no withholding or delaying of arms shipments to Israel.
"The United States is our most important and central ally and our ties are especially important, perhaps more than ever, these days," stressed the Israeli Defence Minister.
"The transition to Phase III in the Gaza Strip is of great importance. I will discuss with the senior officials of the US administration about this transition, about how it can also enable other things," said Gallant. "I know that we will reach close cooperation between Israel and the United States on this issue as well".
This also follows the IDF's announcement on Wednesday of the elimination of Muhammad Ayoub, described as a 'key Hezbollah operative', in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Hezbollah said on Sunday that its fighters had carried out a drone strike on a military command post at the Beit Hillel barracks in response to what it described as an Israeli assassination in the town of Khiara, according to media reports.
Cross-border shelling between Israel and Hezbollah has been ongoing since after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas.
Palestinian officials reported that at least 37,000 people had been killed and more than 85,000 injured at the time of publication.
Mandatory credit: GPO
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stressed Israel's readiness 'for any action that may be required' in Gaza, Lebanon and elsewhere, speaking to the press in Lod on Saturday before leaving for an official visit to Washington at the invitation of Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
"I will meet in the United States the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State and other senior officials of the American government," he said. "In these meetings, I will discuss the situation on the Gaza front, and on the Lebanon front - they are of crucial importance at this time".
The visit coincides with recent tensions sparked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's allegations that the US is delaying arms deliveries to Israel. The Biden administration has denied these claims, saying there is no withholding or delaying of arms shipments to Israel.
"The United States is our most important and central ally and our ties are especially important, perhaps more than ever, these days," stressed the Israeli Defence Minister.
"The transition to Phase III in the Gaza Strip is of great importance. I will discuss with the senior officials of the US administration about this transition, about how it can also enable other things," said Gallant. "I know that we will reach close cooperation between Israel and the United States on this issue as well".
This also follows the IDF's announcement on Wednesday of the elimination of Muhammad Ayoub, described as a 'key Hezbollah operative', in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Hezbollah said on Sunday that its fighters had carried out a drone strike on a military command post at the Beit Hillel barracks in response to what it described as an Israeli assassination in the town of Khiara, according to media reports.
Cross-border shelling between Israel and Hezbollah has been ongoing since after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas.
Palestinian officials reported that at least 37,000 people had been killed and more than 85,000 injured at the time of publication.