US Secretary of Defence: "If Israel is Attacked, the U.S. Will Come to Its Aid"

Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin addressed the concern about potential escalation in the north today (Tuesday), emphasizing that if Hezbollah attacks Israel, the U.S. will come to its aid. "Israel will do whatever it needs to protect itself, and we are committed to helping it do that," Austin said in response to reporters' questions at an event following meetings in the Philippines. "It is not a scenario we want to see, but if Israel is indeed attacked, the U.S. will come to help it defend itself."

However, Austin also noted that he "does not believe an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah is inevitable." He added, "Recently, we have seen many attacks along Israel’s northern border, and while we still worry about possible escalation, I don't think it is imminent. The U.S. is interested in reaching a diplomatic solution."