1 00:00:03,130 --> 00:00:05,880 All right , good afternoon , everyone 2 00:00:05,889 --> 00:00:08,560 quite a bit to share at the top today . 3 00:00:08,970 --> 00:00:10,803 So thank you in advance for your 4 00:00:10,803 --> 00:00:12,859 patience and we'll get right to your 5 00:00:12,859 --> 00:00:14,803 questions . This morning , the Air 6 00:00:14,803 --> 00:00:16,803 Force announced that the search and 7 00:00:16,803 --> 00:00:19,026 rescue effort for the Air Force Special 8 00:00:19,026 --> 00:00:20,970 Operations Command osprey aircraft 9 00:00:20,970 --> 00:00:23,081 mishap in Japan has transitioned to a 10 00:00:23,081 --> 00:00:25,639 search and recovery effort of the eight 11 00:00:25,649 --> 00:00:27,760 airmen on board the aircraft . At the 12 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:29,760 time of the mishap , the remains of 13 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:31,482 three airmen have already been 14 00:00:31,482 --> 00:00:33,538 recovered and the remains of another 15 00:00:33,538 --> 00:00:35,705 three airmen have been located and are 16 00:00:35,705 --> 00:00:37,927 in the process of being recovered . The 17 00:00:37,927 --> 00:00:39,982 recovery operation will now focus on 18 00:00:39,982 --> 00:00:42,093 locating and recovering the remaining 19 00:00:42,093 --> 00:00:44,149 two airmen and aircraft debris . All 20 00:00:44,149 --> 00:00:46,316 families have been contacted about and 21 00:00:46,316 --> 00:00:48,482 notified about the loss of their loved 22 00:00:48,482 --> 00:00:50,705 ones and our deepest condolences go out 23 00:00:50,705 --> 00:00:52,371 to the families , friends and 24 00:00:52,371 --> 00:00:54,316 colleagues of these eight American 25 00:00:54,316 --> 00:00:56,482 airmen who are impacted by this tragic 26 00:00:56,482 --> 00:00:58,816 mishap and the i miserable loss of life . 27 00:00:58,816 --> 00:01:00,982 We wanna thank the government of Japan 28 00:01:00,982 --> 00:01:03,205 for all of their assistance . Air Force 29 00:01:03,205 --> 00:01:04,871 Special Operations Command is 30 00:01:04,871 --> 00:01:07,093 investigating this mishap and I'd refer 31 00:01:07,093 --> 00:01:07,010 you to them for any further questions . 32 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:09,940 Separately , Secretary Austin and 33 00:01:09,949 --> 00:01:12,171 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , 34 00:01:12,171 --> 00:01:14,227 General Brown will join other senior 35 00:01:14,227 --> 00:01:16,282 leaders from across the inter agency 36 00:01:16,282 --> 00:01:18,116 today in a closed session to all 37 00:01:18,116 --> 00:01:20,116 members of Congress to brief on the 38 00:01:20,116 --> 00:01:21,449 urgent need to pass the 39 00:01:21,449 --> 00:01:23,505 administration's supplemental budget 40 00:01:23,505 --> 00:01:25,671 request . As Secretary Austin has said 41 00:01:25,671 --> 00:01:27,893 the supplemental request must be passed 42 00:01:27,893 --> 00:01:30,060 to fund our critical national security 43 00:01:30,060 --> 00:01:32,171 requirements to stand by our partners 44 00:01:32,171 --> 00:01:34,282 in their moment of need and to invest 45 00:01:34,282 --> 00:01:36,116 in our defense industrial base . 46 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:38,416 Notably without additional funding , 47 00:01:38,416 --> 00:01:40,527 the department may soon reach a point 48 00:01:40,527 --> 00:01:42,527 where it cannot sustain the current 49 00:01:42,527 --> 00:01:44,693 level of security assistance . Support 50 00:01:44,693 --> 00:01:46,749 to Ukraine the situation underscores 51 00:01:46,749 --> 00:01:48,330 the importance of continued 52 00:01:48,339 --> 00:01:50,506 congressional support for Ukraine at a 53 00:01:50,506 --> 00:01:52,506 pivotal moment in their campaign to 54 00:01:52,506 --> 00:01:54,672 defend their freedom as they push back 55 00:01:54,672 --> 00:01:57,120 on Russia's war of aggression . Also on 56 00:01:57,129 --> 00:01:59,185 Ukraine , senior leaders from DOD to 57 00:01:59,185 --> 00:02:01,129 include Secretary Austin and under 58 00:02:01,129 --> 00:02:03,185 Secretary of Defense for Acquisition 59 00:02:03,185 --> 00:02:05,018 and Sustainment . Doctor William 60 00:02:05,018 --> 00:02:07,185 LaPlante will participate in a Ukraine 61 00:02:07,185 --> 00:02:09,296 Industrial based Summit tomorrow here 62 00:02:09,296 --> 00:02:11,018 in Washington DC alongside our 63 00:02:11,018 --> 00:02:12,962 Ukrainian partners and interagency 64 00:02:12,962 --> 00:02:15,018 counterparts from the Departments of 65 00:02:15,018 --> 00:02:17,073 State and Commerce . The summit will 66 00:02:17,073 --> 00:02:19,018 reinforce our shared commitment to 67 00:02:19,018 --> 00:02:21,073 enhance Ukraine's defense industrial 68 00:02:21,073 --> 00:02:23,073 base and to further security cooper 69 00:02:23,073 --> 00:02:25,240 operation between our two nations . Of 70 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,296 note . On Thursday . Doctor LaPlante 71 00:02:27,296 --> 00:02:29,462 will convene the eighth meeting of the 72 00:02:29,462 --> 00:02:31,573 National Armament Directors under the 73 00:02:31,573 --> 00:02:33,796 auspices of the Ukraine Defense Contact 74 00:02:33,796 --> 00:02:35,907 Group . The meeting will be held here 75 00:02:35,907 --> 00:02:37,962 at the Pentagon the first time . The 76 00:02:37,962 --> 00:02:40,240 forum is convened in the United States . 77 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,129 The session is a vital forum that 78 00:02:42,129 --> 00:02:42,119 brings together more than 40 nations , 79 00:02:42,130 --> 00:02:44,330 NATO and the EU and is aimed at 80 00:02:44,339 --> 00:02:46,570 collaboratively solving industrial base 81 00:02:46,580 --> 00:02:48,750 and sustainment challenges in support 82 00:02:48,759 --> 00:02:51,080 of Ukraine both to meet immediate 83 00:02:51,089 --> 00:02:53,033 requirements while also supporting 84 00:02:53,033 --> 00:02:54,811 Ukraine's long term defense and 85 00:02:54,811 --> 00:02:56,978 national security needs . We will post 86 00:02:56,978 --> 00:02:58,978 additional details of both of these 87 00:02:58,978 --> 00:03:01,200 important events on defense.gov . After 88 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,070 their conclusion . In the Middle East , 89 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,247 the United States continues to support 90 00:03:06,247 --> 00:03:08,240 Usaid and Un humanitarian relief 91 00:03:08,250 --> 00:03:11,910 operations in Gaza at the request of 92 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:13,863 USA ID , the Department of Defense 93 00:03:13,863 --> 00:03:16,479 airlifted another 16.3 metric tons or 94 00:03:16,490 --> 00:03:19,360 £36,000 of vital supplies to the 95 00:03:19,369 --> 00:03:21,770 people of Gaza today , providing more 96 00:03:21,779 --> 00:03:23,946 vitally needed medical supplies , warm 97 00:03:23,946 --> 00:03:26,639 clothing and food and nutrition . As in 98 00:03:26,649 --> 00:03:28,760 our previous airlift , these supplies 99 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,300 were delivered via A US Air Force C 17 100 00:03:31,479 --> 00:03:34,059 to Egypt to subsequently be transported 101 00:03:34,070 --> 00:03:36,240 via ground into Gaza and then 102 00:03:36,250 --> 00:03:39,240 distributed by UN agencies . Today's 103 00:03:39,250 --> 00:03:41,660 delivery fo follows the November 28th 104 00:03:41,669 --> 00:03:45,119 delivery by dod of £54,000 of supplies 105 00:03:45,199 --> 00:03:47,309 to the people of Gaza . Additional 106 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:49,542 flights are expected in the coming days 107 00:03:49,542 --> 00:03:51,431 and for more information on these 108 00:03:51,431 --> 00:03:53,598 ongoing efforts , I would refer you to 109 00:03:53,598 --> 00:03:55,940 USA ID and other updates . The 110 00:03:55,949 --> 00:03:58,171 secretary will host Swedish Minister of 111 00:03:58,171 --> 00:04:00,227 Defense Paul Johnson at the Pentagon 112 00:04:00,227 --> 00:04:02,393 later today to discuss key defense and 113 00:04:02,393 --> 00:04:04,560 security topics . During the meeting , 114 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:06,671 Secretary Austin and Minister Johnson 115 00:04:06,671 --> 00:04:08,616 will sign the first ever US Sweden 116 00:04:08,616 --> 00:04:10,671 Defense Cooper Operation agreement . 117 00:04:10,671 --> 00:04:12,616 The agreement will enable enhanced 118 00:04:12,616 --> 00:04:14,782 defense cooperations such as the legal 119 00:04:14,782 --> 00:04:16,616 status of deployed US , military 120 00:04:16,616 --> 00:04:18,970 personnel , access to deployment areas 121 00:04:18,980 --> 00:04:21,420 and prepositioning of military material . 122 00:04:22,088 --> 00:04:24,348 The DC A also creates the conditions 123 00:04:24,359 --> 00:04:27,218 necessary for us military support when 124 00:04:27,229 --> 00:04:29,451 requested and is therefore an agreement 125 00:04:29,451 --> 00:04:31,562 of great importance to both countries 126 00:04:31,562 --> 00:04:33,919 shared security objectives . We'll post 127 00:04:33,928 --> 00:04:36,150 a readout of the meeting to the defense 128 00:04:36,150 --> 00:04:38,420 department website afterwards . And 129 00:04:38,429 --> 00:04:40,262 earlier today , Principal Deputy 130 00:04:40,262 --> 00:04:42,207 Assistant Secretary of Defense for 131 00:04:42,207 --> 00:04:44,429 International Security Affairs , Tressa 132 00:04:44,429 --> 00:04:46,540 Guo joined the US Department of State 133 00:04:46,540 --> 00:04:48,429 to lead the Department of Defense 134 00:04:48,429 --> 00:04:50,373 delegation to the 50th anniversary 135 00:04:50,373 --> 00:04:53,059 session of the US Portugal Standing 136 00:04:53,070 --> 00:04:56,089 Bilateral Commission in Angra Doger Iso 137 00:04:56,670 --> 00:04:59,179 Azores to discuss key bilateral defense 138 00:04:59,190 --> 00:05:01,134 priorities including transatlantic 139 00:05:01,134 --> 00:05:03,709 security and to recognize 80 years of 140 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:05,831 defense partnership at Lodges Field . 141 00:05:06,679 --> 00:05:08,457 Finally , more than three dozen 142 00:05:08,457 --> 00:05:10,512 national Guardsmen from the Arkansas 143 00:05:10,512 --> 00:05:12,568 National Guard are in Guatemala this 144 00:05:12,568 --> 00:05:14,457 week to work alongside Guatemalan 145 00:05:14,457 --> 00:05:16,679 physicians to provide free medical care 146 00:05:16,679 --> 00:05:18,679 for civilians . In Guatemala City , 147 00:05:18,890 --> 00:05:21,001 these guard airmen have been treating 148 00:05:21,001 --> 00:05:23,223 as many as 500 patients a day providing 149 00:05:23,223 --> 00:05:25,450 dental , optometry , family medicine 150 00:05:25,459 --> 00:05:28,320 and orthopedic care . Since 2002 , 151 00:05:28,329 --> 00:05:30,551 Arkansas and Guatemala have been joined 152 00:05:30,551 --> 00:05:32,551 as part of the National Guard State 153 00:05:32,551 --> 00:05:34,773 Partnership program and take part in 20 154 00:05:34,773 --> 00:05:36,829 to 30 military to military exchanges 155 00:05:36,829 --> 00:05:38,940 per year . For more information about 156 00:05:38,940 --> 00:05:41,051 the state Partnership program and its 157 00:05:41,051 --> 00:05:43,162 important impact on supporting allied 158 00:05:43,162 --> 00:05:45,385 and partner nations worldwide . You can 159 00:05:45,385 --> 00:05:47,551 reach out to the National Guard Bureau 160 00:05:47,551 --> 00:05:49,662 of Public Affairs and with that happy 161 00:05:49,662 --> 00:05:51,718 to take your questions . We'll go to 162 00:05:51,718 --> 00:05:53,996 associated press leader . Thanks , Pat . 163 00:05:53,996 --> 00:05:56,051 Um , can you give us the secretary's 164 00:05:56,051 --> 00:05:58,218 reaction to Senator Tuberville lifting 165 00:05:58,218 --> 00:06:01,140 his hold on the vast majority of the 166 00:06:01,149 --> 00:06:04,290 nominations . And also what impact does 167 00:06:04,299 --> 00:06:07,049 it have on the department that he has 168 00:06:07,059 --> 00:06:09,170 suggested he would continue to hold , 169 00:06:09,190 --> 00:06:11,290 uh , four star nominations ? What , 170 00:06:11,299 --> 00:06:14,399 what problems does that create ? Uh , 171 00:06:14,410 --> 00:06:16,077 well , certainly , uh , we're 172 00:06:16,077 --> 00:06:17,910 encouraged by the news and we'll 173 00:06:17,910 --> 00:06:20,021 continue to stay engaged with Senator 174 00:06:20,021 --> 00:06:22,132 Tuberville and the Senate uh directly 175 00:06:22,132 --> 00:06:24,570 to urge that all the holds on all our 176 00:06:24,579 --> 00:06:26,579 general flag officer nominations be 177 00:06:26,579 --> 00:06:29,679 lifted uh to include those nominated 178 00:06:29,690 --> 00:06:33,290 for four star . Um A as you know , uh 179 00:06:33,299 --> 00:06:35,920 there have been upwards of 455 180 00:06:35,929 --> 00:06:39,609 nominations uh concerning 451 181 00:06:39,619 --> 00:06:41,841 general and flag officers at the Senate 182 00:06:41,841 --> 00:06:44,320 for consideration . Um in terms of the 183 00:06:44,329 --> 00:06:47,230 number of four stars , uh there would , 184 00:06:47,239 --> 00:06:50,190 there would be at least 11 4 stars uh 185 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,820 that would be impacted uh by those 186 00:06:53,829 --> 00:06:56,070 continued holds and , and all of those 187 00:06:56,079 --> 00:06:58,970 positions uh obviously are key senior 188 00:06:58,980 --> 00:07:01,459 leadership positions to include the 189 00:07:01,470 --> 00:07:03,929 Vice Chiefs of the various services . 190 00:07:04,190 --> 00:07:06,869 Uh the Commander of us Pacific Fleet , 191 00:07:07,179 --> 00:07:10,589 uh The Commander of Pacific Air Forces , 192 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,410 Commander of Air Combat Command , uh as 193 00:07:13,420 --> 00:07:16,769 well as the Commander of uh United 194 00:07:16,779 --> 00:07:19,001 States Northern Command , Cyber Command 195 00:07:19,001 --> 00:07:21,230 and Space Command . So clearly vital 196 00:07:21,399 --> 00:07:23,720 and critical organizations . Uh all of 197 00:07:23,730 --> 00:07:26,950 which require uh experienced uh senior 198 00:07:26,959 --> 00:07:29,015 leaders in those positions does this 199 00:07:29,015 --> 00:07:31,660 create any complications as some of the 200 00:07:31,670 --> 00:07:33,892 people move up into the three star jobs 201 00:07:33,892 --> 00:07:36,489 and , and some move up into other 202 00:07:36,500 --> 00:07:38,179 positions or does this create 203 00:07:38,190 --> 00:07:40,301 complications with people in the same 204 00:07:40,301 --> 00:07:42,929 post or what it , and what happens with 205 00:07:42,940 --> 00:07:46,399 those who are nominated ? Yes , sure . 206 00:07:46,410 --> 00:07:48,410 So that , that is something that we 207 00:07:48,410 --> 00:07:50,577 will continue to work through . Uh you 208 00:07:50,577 --> 00:07:52,743 know , th this is obviously developing 209 00:07:52,743 --> 00:07:54,910 but clearly something that uh that the 210 00:07:54,910 --> 00:07:57,132 department has experience in , in terms 211 00:07:57,132 --> 00:07:58,910 of managing uh general and flag 212 00:07:58,910 --> 00:08:01,077 officers . Uh But to your point , it's 213 00:08:01,077 --> 00:08:03,660 not just flicking a switch and suddenly 214 00:08:03,670 --> 00:08:06,003 everyone moves into these new positions . 215 00:08:06,003 --> 00:08:08,420 Uh You have to consider things like um 216 00:08:08,429 --> 00:08:11,540 when people can move um where the , the 217 00:08:11,549 --> 00:08:13,438 people that are moving out of the 218 00:08:13,438 --> 00:08:15,549 positions are going . And so all that 219 00:08:15,549 --> 00:08:17,605 has to be carefully orchestrated and 220 00:08:17,605 --> 00:08:19,438 done in a way that enables us to 221 00:08:19,438 --> 00:08:21,549 continue to conduct the operations uh 222 00:08:21,549 --> 00:08:23,771 without having significant impact , not 223 00:08:23,771 --> 00:08:23,320 only on the mission but also on the 224 00:08:23,329 --> 00:08:25,607 individual family members . So that'll , 225 00:08:25,607 --> 00:08:27,607 that will be something clearly that 226 00:08:27,607 --> 00:08:29,773 will continue to work through and have 227 00:08:29,773 --> 00:08:32,051 more information on in the coming days , 228 00:08:32,051 --> 00:08:34,273 Jennifer Pat , what was accomplished by 229 00:08:34,273 --> 00:08:36,750 Senator Tuberville's hold ? Uh I , I'd 230 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:38,593 have to refer you to Senator Tub 231 00:08:38,593 --> 00:08:41,270 Tuberville uh to talk about uh that , I 232 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:43,280 mean , clearly from a department of 233 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,169 defense standpoint , um We have a 234 00:08:45,169 --> 00:08:47,739 mission to do uh and we require senior 235 00:08:47,750 --> 00:08:50,570 leaders in key positions to help lead 236 00:08:50,750 --> 00:08:52,639 and conduct the operations of the 237 00:08:52,639 --> 00:08:54,979 Department of Defense . Uh And so I'll 238 00:08:54,989 --> 00:08:57,211 just leave it at that . Can you be more 239 00:08:57,211 --> 00:08:59,322 specific about the impact it actually 240 00:08:59,322 --> 00:09:01,979 had in terms of the officers and their 241 00:09:01,989 --> 00:09:04,789 families , what ha what impacted it 242 00:09:04,799 --> 00:09:08,330 clearly ? Um A again , uh as 243 00:09:08,340 --> 00:09:10,562 evidenced by everything that's going on 244 00:09:10,562 --> 00:09:13,280 in the world right now . Uh We have a 245 00:09:13,289 --> 00:09:15,760 very uh important mission in terms of 246 00:09:15,770 --> 00:09:17,826 defending this nation . And any time 247 00:09:17,826 --> 00:09:21,049 you add a level of uncertainty uh into 248 00:09:21,099 --> 00:09:23,539 uh the chain of command . Uh It , it 249 00:09:23,549 --> 00:09:26,090 creates an unnecessary friction , it 250 00:09:26,099 --> 00:09:28,429 has an impact on readiness as we try to 251 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:30,496 stay focused on the mission which we 252 00:09:30,496 --> 00:09:32,830 are going to do . Uh And so , uh this 253 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,090 department is very focused on a daily 254 00:09:36,099 --> 00:09:38,155 basis on getting that mission done . 255 00:09:38,155 --> 00:09:40,210 But when it's unclear whether or not 256 00:09:40,210 --> 00:09:42,830 your senior leaders are going to be in 257 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:44,840 place at the time and place they're 258 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:46,618 needed , that of course creates 259 00:09:46,618 --> 00:09:48,562 unnecessary friction and does have 260 00:09:48,562 --> 00:09:50,562 impact on readiness . Any agreement 261 00:09:50,562 --> 00:09:52,562 made with Senator Tuberville , what 262 00:09:52,562 --> 00:09:54,507 changed ? I'd have to refer you to 263 00:09:54,507 --> 00:09:56,562 Senator Tuberville for that . Matt . 264 00:09:56,562 --> 00:09:58,507 Thanks Matt . Um I have a question 265 00:09:58,507 --> 00:10:00,729 about Iraq and Syria . So we know about 266 00:10:00,729 --> 00:10:02,729 the AC 130 that struck Iran back to 267 00:10:02,729 --> 00:10:04,840 militants in Syria after an attack on 268 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:06,849 American forces last month . And we 269 00:10:06,859 --> 00:10:10,169 know about the US drone that preempted 270 00:10:10,179 --> 00:10:13,200 an attack by militants in Iraq over the 271 00:10:13,210 --> 00:10:15,321 weekend . Can you tell us how many of 272 00:10:15,321 --> 00:10:17,409 these sort of unplanned , swift , 273 00:10:17,419 --> 00:10:19,989 either counter battery or , um , 274 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,229 preemptively strikes . The US has 275 00:10:22,239 --> 00:10:24,549 launched in the region since October 276 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:26,781 17th . Yeah , thanks Matt . I don't , I 277 00:10:26,781 --> 00:10:29,003 don't have anything else to read out to 278 00:10:29,003 --> 00:10:31,115 you . Um , clearly we have and always 279 00:10:31,115 --> 00:10:33,115 have had the inherent right of self 280 00:10:33,115 --> 00:10:35,226 defense . And so if our forces on the 281 00:10:35,226 --> 00:10:36,948 ground aren't attacked , it is 282 00:10:36,948 --> 00:10:39,003 certainly within their right to take 283 00:10:39,003 --> 00:10:41,226 appropriate action and respond . And so 284 00:10:41,349 --> 00:10:43,590 in those cases , obviously , you know , 285 00:10:43,599 --> 00:10:45,321 we were able to highlight that 286 00:10:45,321 --> 00:10:47,488 information for you , but I don't have 287 00:10:47,488 --> 00:10:49,599 any additional updates to provide for 288 00:10:49,599 --> 00:10:51,766 troop safety in the region that you've 289 00:10:51,766 --> 00:10:53,821 talked about in the past . Should we 290 00:10:53,821 --> 00:10:53,340 expect more of these kind of pre 291 00:10:53,349 --> 00:10:55,669 emptive strikes against these militants 292 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:57,679 going forward ? So I'm not going to 293 00:10:57,679 --> 00:10:59,679 telegraph what we may or may not do 294 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:01,679 other than to say we're going to do 295 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:03,846 what's necessary to protect our forces 296 00:11:03,846 --> 00:11:05,957 in this particular case . Again , you 297 00:11:05,957 --> 00:11:07,957 know , it's what I would consider a 298 00:11:07,957 --> 00:11:10,068 dynamic strike in the sense that they 299 00:11:10,068 --> 00:11:12,235 saw this attack about to happen , took 300 00:11:12,235 --> 00:11:14,235 appropriate action to eliminate the 301 00:11:14,235 --> 00:11:17,130 threat . And so the bottom line is we 302 00:11:17,140 --> 00:11:19,251 will do what we need to do to protect 303 00:11:19,251 --> 00:11:21,418 our forces . Thank you very much . Let 304 00:11:21,418 --> 00:11:21,280 me go over here to f and I'll come back . 305 00:11:22,289 --> 00:11:25,840 I have two separate questions first on 306 00:11:25,849 --> 00:11:27,679 the Secretary of Speech in , in 307 00:11:27,690 --> 00:11:30,320 California where he talked in length 308 00:11:30,330 --> 00:11:32,386 about the war in Gaza . And , and he 309 00:11:32,386 --> 00:11:35,270 said that the only way to win uh in 310 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,320 urban warfare is to protect civilians . 311 00:11:38,330 --> 00:11:40,770 And he personally pushed , as he said , 312 00:11:40,780 --> 00:11:43,099 uh , Israeli leaders to protect , to do 313 00:11:43,109 --> 00:11:45,331 more , to protect civilians . Since the 314 00:11:45,331 --> 00:11:47,809 end of this pause on Friday , um Health 315 00:11:47,820 --> 00:11:50,520 authorities in Gaza are saying that 316 00:11:50,530 --> 00:11:52,640 more than 1200 civilians have been 317 00:11:52,650 --> 00:11:55,309 killed in Israeli strikes . How 318 00:11:55,450 --> 00:11:59,159 satisfied is the secretary from the 319 00:11:59,169 --> 00:12:02,640 way Israel is going about uh 320 00:12:02,650 --> 00:12:04,761 protecting civilians in Gaza ? Yeah , 321 00:12:04,761 --> 00:12:07,260 thanks pa . So I , I can't comment on 322 00:12:07,270 --> 00:12:10,289 the numbers that Hamas the Hamas Health 323 00:12:10,299 --> 00:12:12,521 Ministry is , is putting out so I can't 324 00:12:12,521 --> 00:12:14,577 verify those numbers . Um But what I 325 00:12:14,577 --> 00:12:16,688 can say , what I can say , oh , can I 326 00:12:16,688 --> 00:12:18,743 answer your question ? Uh What I can 327 00:12:18,743 --> 00:12:20,770 say is that uh the secretary , his 328 00:12:20,780 --> 00:12:22,836 words speak for themselves . We , we 329 00:12:22,836 --> 00:12:24,724 will continue to consult with our 330 00:12:24,724 --> 00:12:26,836 Israeli partners on the importance of 331 00:12:26,836 --> 00:12:29,719 taking civilian safety into account as 332 00:12:29,729 --> 00:12:32,450 he highlighted , not only is it a moral 333 00:12:32,460 --> 00:12:34,349 obligation , but it's a strategic 334 00:12:34,349 --> 00:12:36,627 imperative . Uh At the same time again , 335 00:12:36,627 --> 00:12:40,039 we do recognize that Israel is engaged 336 00:12:40,049 --> 00:12:43,020 in a very uh difficult fight when it 337 00:12:43,030 --> 00:12:45,039 comes to preventing Hamas from 338 00:12:45,049 --> 00:12:47,105 conducting the kinds of attacks that 339 00:12:47,105 --> 00:12:50,000 they did on October 7th in a very dense 340 00:12:50,010 --> 00:12:52,880 urban environment uh in which Hamas has 341 00:12:52,890 --> 00:12:55,001 intertwined itself among the civilian 342 00:12:55,001 --> 00:12:57,159 population in effect , using them as 343 00:12:57,169 --> 00:12:59,359 human shields . So again , I'm not 344 00:12:59,369 --> 00:13:01,480 going to speak to Israel's operations 345 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:03,580 uh per se . Other than to say that 346 00:13:03,590 --> 00:13:05,619 again , we will continue to talk uh 347 00:13:05,630 --> 00:13:08,650 with our Israeli partners uh and expect 348 00:13:08,659 --> 00:13:10,659 them to conduct their operations in 349 00:13:10,659 --> 00:13:12,992 accordance with the law of arm conflict . 350 00:13:12,992 --> 00:13:15,159 Thank you on the numbers . Just , just 351 00:13:15,159 --> 00:13:17,381 want to know that the UN is using those 352 00:13:17,381 --> 00:13:19,437 numbers and even the US government . 353 00:13:19,437 --> 00:13:21,215 And we saw that in a hearing in 354 00:13:21,215 --> 00:13:23,381 Congress where US officials said there 355 00:13:23,381 --> 00:13:25,381 are more . Well , what you said was 356 00:13:25,381 --> 00:13:28,059 that since the operations started again 357 00:13:28,070 --> 00:13:30,250 on Friday , that the Hamas Ministry of 358 00:13:30,260 --> 00:13:32,260 Health has said to and I just can't 359 00:13:32,260 --> 00:13:34,371 vouch for those numbers , authorities 360 00:13:34,371 --> 00:13:36,593 in . But what I'm saying is even the US 361 00:13:36,593 --> 00:13:38,760 government is acknowledging that these 362 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:40,649 numbers are accurate . But on the 363 00:13:40,649 --> 00:13:42,427 second thing , issue of amnesty 364 00:13:42,427 --> 00:13:44,593 International and UN investigation has 365 00:13:44,593 --> 00:13:46,816 said that 43 Palestinian civilians have 366 00:13:46,816 --> 00:13:48,982 been killed in two unlawful airstrikes 367 00:13:48,982 --> 00:13:51,705 by Israel using us made weapons . And 368 00:13:51,715 --> 00:13:55,075 amnesty is saying these are uh apparent 369 00:13:55,085 --> 00:13:58,664 war crimes . Does us have any or this 370 00:13:58,674 --> 00:14:01,784 apart uh department , any understanding 371 00:14:01,794 --> 00:14:03,961 of how many civilian Palestinians have 372 00:14:03,961 --> 00:14:07,219 been killed by weapons provided to 373 00:14:07,229 --> 00:14:09,451 Israel by the US ? Yeah , thanks Fadi . 374 00:14:09,451 --> 00:14:11,507 So as far as the report goes , we're 375 00:14:11,507 --> 00:14:13,673 reviewing that report as you know , as 376 00:14:13,673 --> 00:14:15,562 a general matter , we don't offer 377 00:14:15,562 --> 00:14:17,909 public evaluation or we don't offer 378 00:14:17,919 --> 00:14:20,369 evaluations of public reports that are 379 00:14:20,380 --> 00:14:22,809 by outside groups . But again , I'd go 380 00:14:22,820 --> 00:14:25,030 back to what I said earlier is that we 381 00:14:25,039 --> 00:14:26,872 are going to continue to consult 382 00:14:26,872 --> 00:14:28,928 closely with our Israeli partners on 383 00:14:28,928 --> 00:14:30,983 the importance of taking civilian uh 384 00:14:30,983 --> 00:14:32,983 safety into account . In conducting 385 00:14:32,983 --> 00:14:35,261 their operations . Let me go to Joseph . 386 00:14:35,261 --> 00:14:37,483 Thanks . Um Today , earlier today , the 387 00:14:37,483 --> 00:14:39,706 Lebanese army announced that an Israeli 388 00:14:39,706 --> 00:14:41,761 strike in a Lebanese base killed one 389 00:14:41,761 --> 00:14:43,983 Lebanese soldier injured three others . 390 00:14:43,983 --> 00:14:46,039 It seems like it's the first of this 391 00:14:46,039 --> 00:14:48,095 kind and without speaking to Israeli 392 00:14:48,095 --> 00:14:50,317 operations , it also comes on the heels 393 00:14:50,317 --> 00:14:50,020 of last week's call between General 394 00:14:50,030 --> 00:14:52,252 Brown and the Lebanese army chief and , 395 00:14:52,252 --> 00:14:54,630 and General Brown reiterated the the 396 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:56,862 the need to restore calm along the blue 397 00:14:56,862 --> 00:14:59,669 line . So does the department have any 398 00:14:59,679 --> 00:15:02,012 comment or response to the attack today , 399 00:15:02,012 --> 00:15:04,012 which the Lebanese army until today 400 00:15:04,012 --> 00:15:05,957 says they're not involved in these 401 00:15:05,957 --> 00:15:07,846 combat operations ? Yeah , thanks 402 00:15:07,846 --> 00:15:09,512 Joseph . I , I don't have any 403 00:15:09,512 --> 00:15:11,512 information on , on that particular 404 00:15:11,512 --> 00:15:13,623 report . Clearly , the Lebanese armed 405 00:15:13,623 --> 00:15:15,790 forces are an important partner in the 406 00:15:15,790 --> 00:15:18,140 region , but I just don't have any 407 00:15:18,150 --> 00:15:20,700 insight into that . Again , as the 408 00:15:20,710 --> 00:15:22,821 chairman highlighted , we do not want 409 00:15:22,821 --> 00:15:24,900 to see an escalation of the conflict 410 00:15:24,909 --> 00:15:27,559 along the , the northern border of , of 411 00:15:27,570 --> 00:15:29,681 Israel . And so I'll just leave it at 412 00:15:29,681 --> 00:15:31,848 that just to follow up on the question 413 00:15:31,848 --> 00:15:33,959 asked last week . Doctor Carlin a few 414 00:15:33,959 --> 00:15:36,181 weeks ago said that there's a sc office 415 00:15:36,181 --> 00:15:38,070 here . The department is tracking 416 00:15:38,070 --> 00:15:40,126 civilian casualties in Gaza . Do you 417 00:15:40,126 --> 00:15:42,292 have any , can you elaborate at all on 418 00:15:42,292 --> 00:15:44,514 what , what exactly they're doing ? Are 419 00:15:44,514 --> 00:15:44,229 there any reports that are expected to 420 00:15:44,239 --> 00:15:46,128 come out ? I'll have to take that 421 00:15:46,128 --> 00:15:48,128 question . I don't have any further 422 00:15:48,128 --> 00:15:50,183 information . Let me go back here to 423 00:15:50,183 --> 00:15:52,909 WAFA . And then Nancy , the Israeli 424 00:15:52,919 --> 00:15:55,789 defense secretary said the or predicted 425 00:15:55,799 --> 00:15:58,750 that the war in its current intensity 426 00:15:59,419 --> 00:16:02,349 uh may last for at least another two 427 00:16:02,359 --> 00:16:05,219 months . Does the Pentagon share this 428 00:16:05,229 --> 00:16:08,719 assessment ? And will the United States 429 00:16:08,729 --> 00:16:11,820 be providing or continue to provide 430 00:16:11,830 --> 00:16:15,309 Israel with the security assistance 431 00:16:15,549 --> 00:16:18,969 as long as this war will take ? Yeah , 432 00:16:18,979 --> 00:16:21,479 so II I can't put a timeline on an 433 00:16:21,489 --> 00:16:23,489 Israeli operation . That's really a 434 00:16:23,489 --> 00:16:25,656 question for the Israelis to address . 435 00:16:25,656 --> 00:16:27,878 Um I can tell you what we're focused on 436 00:16:27,878 --> 00:16:29,933 and , and you've heard me talk about 437 00:16:29,933 --> 00:16:32,100 this before . Number one is protecting 438 00:16:32,100 --> 00:16:34,211 us , forces and citizens . Number two 439 00:16:34,211 --> 00:16:36,211 is ensuring that Israel has what it 440 00:16:36,211 --> 00:16:38,156 needs to defend itself from future 441 00:16:38,156 --> 00:16:40,780 terrorist attacks by Hamas . Uh We're 442 00:16:40,789 --> 00:16:42,845 also continuing to work closely with 443 00:16:42,845 --> 00:16:46,140 Israel in terms of hostage recovery and 444 00:16:46,150 --> 00:16:48,369 then also ensuring that this crisis 445 00:16:48,380 --> 00:16:50,213 does not escalate into a broader 446 00:16:50,213 --> 00:16:52,436 regional conflict so that will continue 447 00:16:52,436 --> 00:16:54,789 to remain our focus . So you continue 448 00:16:54,799 --> 00:16:57,960 to provide military assistance . As 449 00:16:58,219 --> 00:17:00,950 long as the war will take , we will 450 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:03,182 continue to consult closely with Israel 451 00:17:03,182 --> 00:17:05,404 to ensure that they have what they need 452 00:17:05,404 --> 00:17:07,293 to defend themselves to prevent a 453 00:17:07,293 --> 00:17:09,516 future terrorist attack . One , can you 454 00:17:09,516 --> 00:17:13,364 confirm that you is flying ISR 455 00:17:13,375 --> 00:17:15,454 flights over Lebanon and also if you 456 00:17:15,464 --> 00:17:18,765 can tell us if you resume the ISR 457 00:17:18,775 --> 00:17:20,886 flights over Gaza , I'll have to take 458 00:17:20,886 --> 00:17:23,219 that question . I don't have that Nancy . 459 00:17:23,219 --> 00:17:25,275 Thank you . I wanted to follow up on 460 00:17:25,275 --> 00:17:27,275 some of the comments that Secretary 461 00:17:27,275 --> 00:17:29,275 Austin made over the weekend in his 462 00:17:29,275 --> 00:17:32,084 speech , he warned that that there is 463 00:17:32,094 --> 00:17:35,234 the possibility that that Israel could 464 00:17:35,255 --> 00:17:37,045 replace tactical victory with a 465 00:17:37,055 --> 00:17:39,380 strategic defeat . And so I'd like to 466 00:17:39,390 --> 00:17:42,369 understand is if he is , if that worry 467 00:17:42,380 --> 00:17:44,491 is leading to any changes in terms of 468 00:17:44,491 --> 00:17:46,547 the types of weapons that the United 469 00:17:46,547 --> 00:17:48,658 States provides Israel or , or how it 470 00:17:48,658 --> 00:17:50,880 advises Israel to prevent the strategic 471 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:52,769 defeat that he warned of . Yeah , 472 00:17:52,769 --> 00:17:54,936 thanks Nancy . So I'm not going to get 473 00:17:54,936 --> 00:17:57,047 into the specifics . Um Other than to 474 00:17:57,047 --> 00:17:59,689 say again , we uh consult closely with 475 00:17:59,699 --> 00:18:01,643 Israel Secretary Austin speaks his 476 00:18:01,643 --> 00:18:03,810 counterpart on a near daily basis . Uh 477 00:18:03,810 --> 00:18:06,109 And part of those discussions includes 478 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:08,008 the kind of security assistance , 479 00:18:08,008 --> 00:18:10,349 Israel needs to prevent a future 480 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:13,349 terrorist attack in the future . Um 481 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:15,650 Those conversations also include a 482 00:18:15,660 --> 00:18:17,827 robust discussion as he highlighted in 483 00:18:17,827 --> 00:18:20,670 his remarks of ensuring that civilian 484 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:23,250 safety is taken into account as well as 485 00:18:23,260 --> 00:18:25,038 the importance of ensuring that 486 00:18:25,038 --> 00:18:26,871 humanitarian assistance is being 487 00:18:26,871 --> 00:18:28,871 provided to the people of Gaza . So 488 00:18:28,871 --> 00:18:31,038 I'll just leave it at that . Thank you 489 00:18:31,038 --> 00:18:32,982 very much , ma'am . Um So the Wall 490 00:18:32,982 --> 00:18:35,229 Street Journal actually , they reported 491 00:18:35,770 --> 00:18:37,579 yesterday that the Israelis are 492 00:18:37,589 --> 00:18:41,150 weighing a plan to flood Gaza's tunnels 493 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,589 used by Hamas with Seawater . And I'm 494 00:18:43,599 --> 00:18:45,821 just wondering if that's something that 495 00:18:45,821 --> 00:18:47,821 us defense officials have been told 496 00:18:47,821 --> 00:18:50,043 about by their Israeli counterparts , a 497 00:18:50,043 --> 00:18:49,680 plan that they've been consulting on 498 00:18:49,689 --> 00:18:51,800 and or something they would support . 499 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:53,856 I'd have to refer you to the ID f to 500 00:18:53,856 --> 00:18:56,022 talk about their operations . Thanks . 501 00:18:56,022 --> 00:18:58,133 Natasha . Let me go to the phone here 502 00:18:58,133 --> 00:19:00,356 before I get in trouble . Uh , let's go 503 00:19:00,356 --> 00:19:03,920 to Lara S in Politico . Hi . Yes , 504 00:19:03,930 --> 00:19:05,930 thanks Pat . Sorry . I hope you can 505 00:19:05,930 --> 00:19:08,152 hear me . I'm in kind of a loud space , 506 00:19:08,152 --> 00:19:10,208 but I'm just wondering , um , if the 507 00:19:10,208 --> 00:19:11,819 secretary has , uh , had any 508 00:19:11,819 --> 00:19:14,319 discussions or presented any options 509 00:19:14,329 --> 00:19:17,079 about whether to , about striking back , 510 00:19:17,089 --> 00:19:19,530 potentially , um , on any of the houthi 511 00:19:19,540 --> 00:19:22,219 targets um in , in Yemen or the houthis 512 00:19:22,489 --> 00:19:24,489 that have been launching attacks at 513 00:19:24,489 --> 00:19:26,739 commercial shipping . Yeah , thanks 514 00:19:26,750 --> 00:19:28,972 Lara . So , um again , I'm not going to 515 00:19:28,972 --> 00:19:31,660 telegraph or , or speculate on uh 516 00:19:31,670 --> 00:19:35,250 potential uh strikes in the future . Uh 517 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:37,447 A as you've heard us say , we're gonna 518 00:19:37,447 --> 00:19:39,391 do what's necessary to protect our 519 00:19:39,391 --> 00:19:41,502 forces . Now , let's take a step back 520 00:19:41,502 --> 00:19:43,558 here and talk about the situation in 521 00:19:43,558 --> 00:19:46,119 the Red Sea . Um As , as you've heard 522 00:19:46,130 --> 00:19:50,089 uh yesterday , most likely from uh the 523 00:19:50,099 --> 00:19:53,619 uh White House in terms of the uh or 524 00:19:53,630 --> 00:19:55,686 the National Security Advisor talked 525 00:19:55,686 --> 00:19:57,352 about the fact that we are in 526 00:19:57,352 --> 00:20:00,109 discussions uh with our partners and 527 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:03,130 our allies about a maritime task force . 528 00:20:03,339 --> 00:20:05,760 Um It's important to highlight that the 529 00:20:05,770 --> 00:20:09,479 houthi uh strikes against commercial 530 00:20:09,489 --> 00:20:12,290 vessels in international waters uh 531 00:20:12,500 --> 00:20:14,500 underscore the fact that this is an 532 00:20:14,500 --> 00:20:17,089 international problem . Uh All three of 533 00:20:17,099 --> 00:20:19,420 these ships were sailing in 534 00:20:19,430 --> 00:20:21,541 international waters , representing a 535 00:20:21,541 --> 00:20:24,060 variety of countries uh in terms of 536 00:20:24,069 --> 00:20:26,180 where they were flagged and , and who 537 00:20:26,180 --> 00:20:28,530 they were crewed by uh So those talks 538 00:20:28,540 --> 00:20:30,619 are ongoing . Uh I don't have any 539 00:20:30,630 --> 00:20:32,930 specifics to announce . Um But I would 540 00:20:32,939 --> 00:20:35,161 highlight we already have the framework 541 00:20:35,161 --> 00:20:37,310 in place to enable such a task force 542 00:20:37,319 --> 00:20:39,263 through the combined maritime task 543 00:20:39,263 --> 00:20:41,486 force . Uh Now , the important thing to 544 00:20:41,486 --> 00:20:43,597 understand about that task force . Uh 545 00:20:43,597 --> 00:20:45,708 It's an international task force made 546 00:20:45,708 --> 00:20:48,500 up of 38 nations . It is a coalition of 547 00:20:48,510 --> 00:20:51,160 the willing and it does not prescribe a 548 00:20:51,170 --> 00:20:53,520 specific level of participation from 549 00:20:53,530 --> 00:20:55,680 any member nation . So uh those 550 00:20:55,689 --> 00:20:57,979 contributions are determined uh from 551 00:20:57,989 --> 00:20:59,989 each country and so therefore , can 552 00:20:59,989 --> 00:21:01,959 vary depending on its ability to 553 00:21:01,969 --> 00:21:04,136 contribute assets and its availability 554 00:21:04,136 --> 00:21:06,191 to provide those assets at any given 555 00:21:06,191 --> 00:21:09,790 time . So , uh we , we are definitely 556 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:12,739 uh looking to take action here uh as it 557 00:21:12,750 --> 00:21:14,972 relates to working with , with partners 558 00:21:14,972 --> 00:21:17,083 and allies uh throughout the region . 559 00:21:17,083 --> 00:21:19,250 Oh , by the way , something that we've 560 00:21:19,250 --> 00:21:21,306 been doing for years . Thank you . I 561 00:21:21,310 --> 00:21:23,477 mean , uh uh go to Jeff Shole task and 562 00:21:23,477 --> 00:21:25,770 purpose . Thank you . Uh You had 563 00:21:25,780 --> 00:21:28,160 mentioned some of the uh four star 564 00:21:28,170 --> 00:21:29,892 positions that remain vacant , 565 00:21:29,892 --> 00:21:31,726 including the head of Air Combat 566 00:21:31,726 --> 00:21:34,099 Command , uh cyberspace Northern 567 00:21:34,109 --> 00:21:36,079 Command . How is the department 568 00:21:36,089 --> 00:21:39,060 affected or how is it limited by these 569 00:21:39,069 --> 00:21:42,250 uh continuing vacancies ? Yeah , thanks , 570 00:21:42,260 --> 00:21:44,316 Jeff . Well , to be clear , uh there 571 00:21:44,316 --> 00:21:46,093 are people uh in a lot of those 572 00:21:46,093 --> 00:21:47,982 positions uh in some cases though 573 00:21:47,982 --> 00:21:50,260 they've been extended or in some cases , 574 00:21:50,260 --> 00:21:52,410 there's uh an acting role in the case 575 00:21:52,420 --> 00:21:54,531 of the vice chief positions . To your 576 00:21:54,531 --> 00:21:56,476 point , uh currently there , there 577 00:21:56,476 --> 00:21:58,587 would be no vice chief . So uh it's a 578 00:21:58,587 --> 00:22:01,410 combination . Um And then again , in 579 00:22:01,420 --> 00:22:03,599 terms of the impact , um we've got a 580 00:22:03,609 --> 00:22:05,969 lot of work to do . Uh and you , you 581 00:22:05,979 --> 00:22:08,619 need to have the right leaders in place 582 00:22:08,630 --> 00:22:11,060 uh in order to uh carry out those 583 00:22:11,069 --> 00:22:13,236 operations . Oh , by the way , in some 584 00:22:13,236 --> 00:22:15,069 cases , when you're in an acting 585 00:22:15,069 --> 00:22:17,013 capacity , you don't have the full 586 00:22:17,013 --> 00:22:19,236 authorities necessary uh to sign off on 587 00:22:19,236 --> 00:22:21,989 policies or to make decisions uh or by 588 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:24,930 virtue of uh statutes that may exist 589 00:22:24,939 --> 00:22:27,199 that require Senate confirmed leader uh 590 00:22:27,209 --> 00:22:29,487 to be able to carry out certain duties . 591 00:22:29,487 --> 00:22:31,939 So , uh again , um we've talked about 592 00:22:31,949 --> 00:22:34,060 this ad nauseam and the importance of 593 00:22:34,060 --> 00:22:35,949 making sure uh that all holds are 594 00:22:35,949 --> 00:22:38,005 lifted and that nominations can make 595 00:22:38,005 --> 00:22:40,171 their way through the Senate . Chris . 596 00:22:40,171 --> 00:22:42,005 Uh There were many uh elected uh 597 00:22:42,005 --> 00:22:44,227 leaders at the Reagan Forum . Secretary 598 00:22:44,227 --> 00:22:46,250 Austin was there . Um Did Secretary 599 00:22:46,260 --> 00:22:48,869 Austin discuss um the whole issue with 600 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:51,989 any uh senators or their staff um at 601 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,319 the Reagan Forum ? Um Has he had any 602 00:22:54,329 --> 00:22:56,780 recent conversations either in person 603 00:22:56,790 --> 00:22:59,640 by phone letter or other means that may 604 00:22:59,650 --> 00:23:01,817 have put a renewed sense of uh urgency 605 00:23:01,819 --> 00:23:04,041 on this issue ? Yeah , thanks , Chris . 606 00:23:04,041 --> 00:23:05,986 I'm not gonna get into the private 607 00:23:05,986 --> 00:23:08,208 conversations uh that he had other than 608 00:23:08,208 --> 00:23:10,319 to say he did have the opportunity to 609 00:23:10,319 --> 00:23:12,520 engage with congressional leaders at 610 00:23:12,530 --> 00:23:14,586 the Reagan defense Forum . But , but 611 00:23:14,586 --> 00:23:16,697 look , he's been very clear on this , 612 00:23:16,697 --> 00:23:18,863 both publicly and privately for a very 613 00:23:18,863 --> 00:23:20,863 long time now and the importance of 614 00:23:20,863 --> 00:23:23,141 lifting these holds . Thanks very much , 615 00:23:23,141 --> 00:23:26,050 Joe . Uh I wanna go back to what you 616 00:23:26,060 --> 00:23:29,270 have said about the maritime task force . 617 00:23:29,959 --> 00:23:32,920 Uh Does the Pentagon believe that the 618 00:23:32,930 --> 00:23:36,890 GCC should and Egypt should play a role 619 00:23:36,900 --> 00:23:39,270 in this uh international . Yes , 620 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:41,810 international led effort . Thanks Joe 621 00:23:41,819 --> 00:23:43,652 again , I don't have anything to 622 00:23:43,652 --> 00:23:45,375 announce today in terms of the 623 00:23:45,375 --> 00:23:47,486 specifics . Other than to say , we do 624 00:23:47,486 --> 00:23:49,708 have a framework in place as it , as it 625 00:23:49,708 --> 00:23:51,708 relates to the combined uh maritime 626 00:23:51,709 --> 00:23:54,020 force . So um when we have additional 627 00:23:54,030 --> 00:23:56,197 details to provide , we certainly will 628 00:23:56,197 --> 00:23:58,308 do that . Thank you very much , sir . 629 00:23:58,308 --> 00:24:00,030 Thank you very much general um 630 00:24:00,030 --> 00:24:02,197 regarding to the New York Times report 631 00:24:02,197 --> 00:24:04,329 yesterday , um a Hamas missile struck 632 00:24:04,339 --> 00:24:07,680 an ID F facility um housing Israel's 633 00:24:07,689 --> 00:24:10,329 nuclear capable missiles . So , do you 634 00:24:10,339 --> 00:24:13,130 have any um knowledge about that attack 635 00:24:13,140 --> 00:24:15,307 that attack will be uh that's happened 636 00:24:15,307 --> 00:24:17,473 already on the seventh of October last 637 00:24:17,473 --> 00:24:19,473 October ? And how much does the dod 638 00:24:19,473 --> 00:24:22,439 concerns about impact on us strategic 639 00:24:22,449 --> 00:24:25,160 stockpile in Israel because of this war ? 640 00:24:25,369 --> 00:24:27,369 Yeah , thanks . Uh as it relates to 641 00:24:27,369 --> 00:24:29,536 that , that news report , I don't have 642 00:24:29,536 --> 00:24:31,536 anything on that . I'd refer you to 643 00:24:31,536 --> 00:24:33,647 Israel clearly though when you take a 644 00:24:33,647 --> 00:24:35,591 step back . Uh and to your point , 645 00:24:35,591 --> 00:24:37,758 there are missiles being launched into 646 00:24:37,758 --> 00:24:39,647 Israel which again highlights the 647 00:24:39,647 --> 00:24:41,910 threat uh that Hamas does pose to 648 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:45,390 Israel JJ . Uh Sir , you , you 649 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:48,060 mentioned three things that were part 650 00:24:48,069 --> 00:24:50,236 of the objective for sending the added 651 00:24:50,236 --> 00:24:54,000 presents to the region um since 652 00:24:54,130 --> 00:24:57,709 the October 7th uh massacre in Israel . 653 00:24:57,900 --> 00:25:00,219 And the third one , which was to 654 00:25:00,229 --> 00:25:03,849 prevent the crisis from expanding um to 655 00:25:03,859 --> 00:25:05,970 other parts of the region , given the 656 00:25:05,970 --> 00:25:08,137 frequency and the types of attacks and 657 00:25:08,137 --> 00:25:11,069 the those that have been involved is 658 00:25:11,079 --> 00:25:12,912 the Pentagon satisfied that this 659 00:25:12,912 --> 00:25:16,160 conflict hasn't already expanded . Yeah , 660 00:25:16,170 --> 00:25:18,760 look again . Uh what we're focused on 661 00:25:18,770 --> 00:25:22,150 is preventing the crisis uh in Israel 662 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:24,271 as it relates to the conflict between 663 00:25:24,271 --> 00:25:26,327 Israel and Hamas from expanding into 664 00:25:26,327 --> 00:25:28,493 the broader region . So far , it's our 665 00:25:28,493 --> 00:25:30,827 assessment that that has been contained . 666 00:25:30,827 --> 00:25:33,104 Israel is fighting Hamas in Gaza . Now , 667 00:25:33,104 --> 00:25:35,104 that's not to say that there aren't 668 00:25:35,104 --> 00:25:37,290 elements uh you know , in Iraq and 669 00:25:37,300 --> 00:25:39,420 Syria that are attempting to exploit 670 00:25:39,430 --> 00:25:41,880 the situation as you've seen with these 671 00:25:41,890 --> 00:25:44,057 rocket and drone attacks . Oh , by the 672 00:25:44,057 --> 00:25:46,057 way , it's not the first time these 673 00:25:46,057 --> 00:25:48,334 groups have done these sorts of things . 674 00:25:48,334 --> 00:25:50,279 So as they again , try to use this 675 00:25:50,279 --> 00:25:53,400 situation to advance their broader 676 00:25:53,410 --> 00:25:55,660 objective , which is to expel us forces 677 00:25:55,670 --> 00:25:58,680 from Iraq and Syria , uh again , we 678 00:25:58,689 --> 00:26:00,689 have a very important mission there 679 00:26:00,689 --> 00:26:02,745 focused on the defeat ISIS mission . 680 00:26:02,745 --> 00:26:04,745 It's the only reason our forces are 681 00:26:04,745 --> 00:26:06,800 there . Uh They will stay focused on 682 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:09,022 that and we're going to stay focused on 683 00:26:09,022 --> 00:26:11,245 protecting them uh as it relates to the 684 00:26:11,245 --> 00:26:13,356 Houthis . Again , I've highlighted uh 685 00:26:13,356 --> 00:26:15,578 that , that we will continue to consult 686 00:26:15,578 --> 00:26:17,411 with uh international allies and 687 00:26:17,411 --> 00:26:19,300 partners on an appropriate way to 688 00:26:19,300 --> 00:26:21,189 protect commercial shipping going 689 00:26:21,189 --> 00:26:23,189 through that region . Um And at the 690 00:26:23,189 --> 00:26:25,411 same time , ensuring we do what we need 691 00:26:25,411 --> 00:26:27,578 to do to protect our forces . Um You , 692 00:26:27,578 --> 00:26:29,800 you've been following this region for a 693 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:31,856 long time , you know that the Houthi 694 00:26:31,856 --> 00:26:33,689 forces , Houthi rebels have been 695 00:26:33,689 --> 00:26:35,689 engaged in conflict throughout that 696 00:26:35,689 --> 00:26:37,800 region for a while . Now . Uh just in 697 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:39,800 this case , now , they're targeting 698 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:41,911 inter international shipping . And so 699 00:26:41,911 --> 00:26:43,800 the United States along with many 700 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:45,578 countries in the region uh have 701 00:26:45,578 --> 00:26:47,578 provided a presence there to ensure 702 00:26:47,578 --> 00:26:49,745 international security and stability . 703 00:26:49,745 --> 00:26:51,467 Uh We will continue to play an 704 00:26:51,467 --> 00:26:53,633 important role in that effort . Let me 705 00:26:53,633 --> 00:26:53,410 go back to the phone and I'll come back 706 00:26:53,420 --> 00:26:55,364 to Jennifer here . Uh Let me go to 707 00:26:55,364 --> 00:26:58,300 Howard uh War Zone . Hey , thanks Pat . 708 00:26:58,310 --> 00:27:01,839 Um The ID F is saying that about uh two 709 00:27:01,849 --> 00:27:05,319 civilians were um killed every Hamas 710 00:27:05,329 --> 00:27:07,440 fighters that are you tracking that , 711 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:09,607 that , that level of casualty figure ? 712 00:27:09,939 --> 00:27:12,800 Uh Look again , I I don't have any uh 713 00:27:12,810 --> 00:27:15,439 information to provide on specifics of 714 00:27:15,449 --> 00:27:17,727 casualties , Howard other than we know . 715 00:27:17,849 --> 00:27:20,040 Uh And you've heard me say before , uh 716 00:27:20,050 --> 00:27:22,530 that thousands of civilians have been 717 00:27:22,540 --> 00:27:24,762 killed in this fighting . We regret any 718 00:27:24,762 --> 00:27:27,599 loss of life . Uh And , and any loss of 719 00:27:27,609 --> 00:27:30,069 life is tragic . Uh which is why you 720 00:27:30,079 --> 00:27:32,239 see us working so hard to make sure 721 00:27:32,250 --> 00:27:34,329 that not only does civilian or 722 00:27:34,339 --> 00:27:36,561 humanitarian assistance get in but also 723 00:27:36,561 --> 00:27:38,395 that we're continuing to consult 724 00:27:38,395 --> 00:27:40,228 closely with the Israelis on the 725 00:27:40,228 --> 00:27:42,339 importance of mitigating any civilian 726 00:27:42,339 --> 00:27:45,290 harm Jennifer . Just a quick follow up 727 00:27:45,420 --> 00:27:47,640 in terms of the freedom of navigation 728 00:27:47,650 --> 00:27:51,630 operations . What message should 729 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:53,529 the Chinese be taking from the US 730 00:27:53,529 --> 00:27:55,418 reaction in the Red Sea ? You had 731 00:27:55,418 --> 00:27:57,584 ballistic missiles and drones fired at 732 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:00,939 us . Vessels . Would this be the same 733 00:28:00,949 --> 00:28:02,930 response in the Pacific ? And what 734 00:28:02,939 --> 00:28:04,939 message should China take from us ? 735 00:28:04,939 --> 00:28:07,161 Yeah , so a couple things . So first of 736 00:28:07,161 --> 00:28:10,400 all , uh just to clarify um in , in the 737 00:28:10,410 --> 00:28:13,410 case of what we saw over this weekend 738 00:28:13,420 --> 00:28:15,859 with the drones , um those drones were 739 00:28:15,869 --> 00:28:18,147 coming in the direction of the Kearney , 740 00:28:18,147 --> 00:28:20,313 which is why , you know , they took it 741 00:28:20,313 --> 00:28:22,369 down . I I can't stand here and tell 742 00:28:22,369 --> 00:28:24,591 you that we know definitively that they 743 00:28:24,591 --> 00:28:26,702 were headed towards the Kearney , but 744 00:28:26,702 --> 00:28:28,758 they were within the threat ring and 745 00:28:28,758 --> 00:28:30,758 the commanders took the appropriate 746 00:28:30,758 --> 00:28:32,536 action to ensure that they were 747 00:28:32,536 --> 00:28:35,209 defending themselves . Um Every single 748 00:28:35,219 --> 00:28:37,497 time you're in one of these situations , 749 00:28:37,497 --> 00:28:39,775 you have to judge it on your own merit , 750 00:28:39,775 --> 00:28:41,941 which is again , why it's important to 751 00:28:41,941 --> 00:28:43,997 have qualified experienced people in 752 00:28:43,997 --> 00:28:46,108 command uh in order to make sure that 753 00:28:46,108 --> 00:28:48,163 you're not taking actions that could 754 00:28:48,163 --> 00:28:50,386 potentially escalate the situation . So 755 00:28:50,386 --> 00:28:52,552 to your question , as it relates to uh 756 00:28:52,552 --> 00:28:54,663 inappropriate unprofessional behavior 757 00:28:54,663 --> 00:28:56,830 in the South China Sea . Again , a lot 758 00:28:56,830 --> 00:28:59,170 of times it's target identification uh 759 00:28:59,180 --> 00:29:01,479 or aircraft identification and knowing 760 00:29:01,489 --> 00:29:03,711 what you're dealing with here . Uh Same 761 00:29:03,711 --> 00:29:06,239 thing if you're flying over Syria and , 762 00:29:06,250 --> 00:29:08,439 and you are interacting with any 763 00:29:08,449 --> 00:29:10,760 Russian assets . Uh You , you need to 764 00:29:10,770 --> 00:29:13,530 make appropriate decisions on um on , 765 00:29:13,630 --> 00:29:15,760 on that situation and what the 766 00:29:15,770 --> 00:29:18,010 appropriate action is going to be . All 767 00:29:18,020 --> 00:29:19,909 that , to say , all of our forces 768 00:29:19,909 --> 00:29:22,020 always maintain the inherent right of 769 00:29:22,020 --> 00:29:24,020 self defense . Uh And if there is a 770 00:29:24,020 --> 00:29:25,964 threat perceived , they could take 771 00:29:25,964 --> 00:29:28,020 appropriate action and we'll do so . 772 00:29:28,020 --> 00:29:30,187 Ballistic missiles were fired at three 773 00:29:30,187 --> 00:29:32,298 international ship ships and they hit 774 00:29:32,298 --> 00:29:34,339 those ships . If the same thing 775 00:29:34,349 --> 00:29:36,571 happened in the South China Sea , would 776 00:29:36,571 --> 00:29:39,400 the US still not respond ? I'm not 777 00:29:39,410 --> 00:29:41,132 going to get into hypothetical 778 00:29:41,132 --> 00:29:43,243 situations . Other than again , we'll 779 00:29:43,243 --> 00:29:45,299 take appropriate action based on the 780 00:29:45,299 --> 00:29:47,209 situation . Thank you . General , 781 00:29:47,369 --> 00:29:50,079 excuse me . Uh White House , national 782 00:29:50,089 --> 00:29:52,920 Security Adviser , Sullivan said the 783 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:56,430 United States budget to support to 784 00:29:56,439 --> 00:29:59,760 Ukraine . Iran is , excuse me , I got 785 00:29:59,770 --> 00:30:02,439 rid of the husky voices . Ukraine has 786 00:30:02,449 --> 00:30:04,671 run . I'm sorry , I'm gonna do all over 787 00:30:04,671 --> 00:30:06,616 again . Why ? As National Security 788 00:30:06,616 --> 00:30:09,599 Advisor Sullivan said that the United 789 00:30:09,694 --> 00:30:12,775 the State budget to support to Ukraine 790 00:30:12,785 --> 00:30:16,234 has run up . And he also said that 791 00:30:16,244 --> 00:30:19,185 South Korea has supplied large 792 00:30:19,194 --> 00:30:22,994 quantities of artillery shares to 793 00:30:23,005 --> 00:30:26,694 Ukraine . So how will the budget be 794 00:30:26,704 --> 00:30:29,755 covered ? And should the South Korea 795 00:30:29,765 --> 00:30:33,185 more artillery sales support to Ukraine ? 796 00:30:33,959 --> 00:30:37,739 Yeah , so um just to kind of underscore 797 00:30:37,750 --> 00:30:40,040 what Mr Sullivan said , you know , time 798 00:30:40,050 --> 00:30:42,217 is really of the essence when it comes 799 00:30:42,217 --> 00:30:44,920 to Congress passing the supplemental uh 800 00:30:44,930 --> 00:30:47,530 request . Uh or else we will find 801 00:30:47,540 --> 00:30:49,762 ourselves in a position where we're not 802 00:30:49,762 --> 00:30:51,707 able to support Ukraine's security 803 00:30:51,707 --> 00:30:53,818 assistance requirements much longer . 804 00:30:53,818 --> 00:30:55,929 And so we will uh as I highlighted at 805 00:30:55,929 --> 00:30:57,984 the top of this briefing , Secretary 806 00:30:57,984 --> 00:31:00,151 Austin , uh General Brown will both be 807 00:31:00,151 --> 00:31:02,318 on the on the hill today . Uh to again 808 00:31:02,318 --> 00:31:04,429 uh speak with members of Congress and 809 00:31:04,429 --> 00:31:06,660 to uh highlight again , we want to work 810 00:31:06,670 --> 00:31:08,392 closely with them to have this 811 00:31:08,392 --> 00:31:10,226 supplemental pass so that we can 812 00:31:10,226 --> 00:31:12,281 continue to support Ukraine and meet 813 00:31:12,281 --> 00:31:14,448 their urgent security needs to prevent 814 00:31:14,448 --> 00:31:16,670 further Russian aggression . Time for a 815 00:31:16,670 --> 00:31:18,559 few more , Tony . Do you have the 816 00:31:18,559 --> 00:31:20,281 current figure of how much PDF 817 00:31:20,281 --> 00:31:22,337 presidential drawing on authority is 818 00:31:22,337 --> 00:31:24,114 still available and once that's 819 00:31:24,114 --> 00:31:26,910 exhausted , do the services have other 820 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:29,829 sources they could tap for Ukraine ? 821 00:31:30,489 --> 00:31:33,849 Yeah . So um right now , uh there is 822 00:31:33,859 --> 00:31:37,709 roughly $4.8 billion in restored uh 823 00:31:37,719 --> 00:31:39,930 presidential drawdown authority still 824 00:31:39,939 --> 00:31:42,819 available . Um And there is uh 825 00:31:42,829 --> 00:31:46,510 1.1 billion in existing resources 826 00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:50,209 available to back fill us stocks . 827 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:53,949 Um So in terms of um 828 00:31:54,910 --> 00:31:56,800 funding , as I as I highlighted , 829 00:31:56,810 --> 00:31:58,921 without funding , we will not be able 830 00:31:58,921 --> 00:32:00,977 to provide Ukraine with the critical 831 00:32:00,977 --> 00:32:02,866 security assistance . It needs to 832 00:32:02,866 --> 00:32:04,977 protect its cities , its people , its 833 00:32:04,977 --> 00:32:07,199 critical infrastructure . Um And we may 834 00:32:07,199 --> 00:32:09,254 reach a point where we can't sustain 835 00:32:09,254 --> 00:32:10,921 the current level of security 836 00:32:10,921 --> 00:32:13,000 assistance , support to Ukraine . Uh 837 00:32:13,010 --> 00:32:15,066 and our , our spending decisions are 838 00:32:15,066 --> 00:32:16,899 going to be informed by multiple 839 00:32:16,899 --> 00:32:18,677 factors which include Ukraine's 840 00:32:18,677 --> 00:32:20,732 immediate needs , uh their equipment 841 00:32:20,732 --> 00:32:22,566 availability and our capacity to 842 00:32:22,566 --> 00:32:24,788 replenish our resources , ensuring that 843 00:32:24,788 --> 00:32:26,454 our aid is both strategic and 844 00:32:26,454 --> 00:32:28,680 sustainable . So , uh again , uh we 845 00:32:28,689 --> 00:32:31,060 would just continue to urge Congress to 846 00:32:31,069 --> 00:32:33,125 pass the supplemental circle back on 847 00:32:33,125 --> 00:32:35,236 the Amnesty international issue . And 848 00:32:35,236 --> 00:32:37,458 you said you were looking at the report 849 00:32:37,458 --> 00:32:39,880 is the civilian mitigation and response 850 00:32:39,890 --> 00:32:42,670 force uh unit that's in the policy shop . 851 00:32:42,959 --> 00:32:45,070 Are they the ones actively looking at 852 00:32:45,070 --> 00:32:47,540 that report ? Is , is this the kind of 853 00:32:47,709 --> 00:32:49,900 uh report that that unit would be , is 854 00:32:49,910 --> 00:32:52,130 looking at to advise senior leadership 855 00:32:52,140 --> 00:32:54,560 here in their discussions with Israel ? 856 00:32:54,989 --> 00:32:57,045 Yeah , so kind of similar to what uh 857 00:32:57,045 --> 00:32:59,267 Joseph was asking . So I'll , I'll take 858 00:32:59,267 --> 00:33:01,489 that question back and , and we'll look 859 00:33:01,489 --> 00:33:03,545 at that holistically , sir , because 860 00:33:03,545 --> 00:33:03,500 that's of use to the public to know 861 00:33:03,510 --> 00:33:06,060 that you got it . Thank you , sir . Are 862 00:33:06,069 --> 00:33:08,125 you still working on determining how 863 00:33:08,125 --> 00:33:10,291 much military assistance has been sent 864 00:33:10,291 --> 00:33:12,402 to Israel so far ? Because we've been 865 00:33:12,402 --> 00:33:14,625 working on that for a couple of weeks ? 866 00:33:14,625 --> 00:33:18,260 Yeah . So um what , what I would tell 867 00:33:18,270 --> 00:33:20,492 you here because again , I , you know , 868 00:33:20,492 --> 00:33:22,603 I think we've talked about previously 869 00:33:22,603 --> 00:33:24,826 in terms of why are you able to provide 870 00:33:24,826 --> 00:33:27,048 information on Ukraine ? But you're not 871 00:33:27,048 --> 00:33:29,270 able to provide information on Israel . 872 00:33:29,270 --> 00:33:31,214 And so , um I have dug into this a 873 00:33:31,214 --> 00:33:33,270 little bit further and , and I would 874 00:33:33,270 --> 00:33:35,159 say that it's , it's important to 875 00:33:35,159 --> 00:33:37,270 differentiate the security assistance 876 00:33:37,270 --> 00:33:39,270 we're providing to Ukraine . Uh and 877 00:33:39,270 --> 00:33:41,214 Israel , the Department of Defense 878 00:33:41,214 --> 00:33:43,239 budgeted for Ukraine , uh which is 879 00:33:43,250 --> 00:33:45,699 trackable via the presidential drawdown 880 00:33:45,819 --> 00:33:47,986 authority announcements that we made . 881 00:33:48,020 --> 00:33:49,909 Uh but the situation in Israel is 882 00:33:49,909 --> 00:33:52,040 different , so dod has not received 883 00:33:52,050 --> 00:33:53,949 appropriated funds or draw down 884 00:33:53,959 --> 00:33:56,560 authority for Israel . So instead 885 00:33:56,569 --> 00:33:59,569 Israel is using its own funds to pay 886 00:33:59,579 --> 00:34:02,010 for us defense articles and services to 887 00:34:02,020 --> 00:34:03,959 include state department provided 888 00:34:03,969 --> 00:34:06,489 foreign military financing for some 889 00:34:06,500 --> 00:34:08,500 items that are sold through foreign 890 00:34:08,500 --> 00:34:10,679 military sales uh as well as direct 891 00:34:10,689 --> 00:34:13,729 commercial sales . Uh And so , um 892 00:34:14,428 --> 00:34:16,618 if you know , Congress acts on the 893 00:34:16,628 --> 00:34:18,779 supplemental budget and funds are 894 00:34:18,789 --> 00:34:20,789 appropriated , then certainly there 895 00:34:20,789 --> 00:34:22,845 will be uh an ability to track those 896 00:34:22,845 --> 00:34:25,329 funds . Um But Congress has yet to act 897 00:34:25,388 --> 00:34:27,444 on a supplemental budget request for 898 00:34:27,444 --> 00:34:29,110 Ukraine and Israel . And as I 899 00:34:29,110 --> 00:34:31,388 highlighted , it's essential that they , 900 00:34:31,388 --> 00:34:33,499 they do so . So uh at this time , dod 901 00:34:33,499 --> 00:34:35,610 has not been provided any funding for 902 00:34:35,610 --> 00:34:37,979 support to Israel . Uh And our previous 903 00:34:37,989 --> 00:34:40,388 funding for Ukraine is nearly exhausted . 904 00:34:40,398 --> 00:34:42,398 So again , uh we would just call on 905 00:34:42,398 --> 00:34:46,099 Congress to pass it now that Israel has 906 00:34:46,108 --> 00:34:48,275 restarted the military campaign . This 907 00:34:48,275 --> 00:34:50,386 administration said that no red lines 908 00:34:50,386 --> 00:34:52,968 are drawn and also no preconditions on 909 00:34:52,979 --> 00:34:55,188 the usage of the US ammunition and 910 00:34:55,198 --> 00:34:57,365 weapons . Is that still the case ? Can 911 00:34:57,365 --> 00:34:59,476 you confirm again ? I just go back to 912 00:34:59,476 --> 00:35:01,476 how we got here on October 7th when 913 00:35:01,479 --> 00:35:05,100 Hamas attacked Israel killed over 1200 914 00:35:05,110 --> 00:35:07,979 people , took over 200 hostages . Um 915 00:35:08,159 --> 00:35:10,830 Half of which are still being held . So 916 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:12,896 we understand fundamentally Israel's 917 00:35:12,896 --> 00:35:15,850 right to defend itself from these kinds 918 00:35:15,860 --> 00:35:17,860 of attacks . Um But again , as I 919 00:35:17,870 --> 00:35:19,926 highlighted earlier , we also expect 920 00:35:19,926 --> 00:35:22,148 that Israel will conduct its operations 921 00:35:22,148 --> 00:35:24,148 in accordance with the law of armed 922 00:35:24,148 --> 00:35:26,148 conflict and we'll continue to have 923 00:35:26,148 --> 00:35:26,129 those conversations uh , for all the 924 00:35:26,139 --> 00:35:28,320 reasons I've highlighted . And as 925 00:35:28,330 --> 00:35:30,330 Secretary Austin highlighted in his 926 00:35:30,330 --> 00:35:32,441 remarks , uh , at the Reagan National 927 00:35:32,441 --> 00:35:34,386 Defense Forum , let me take just a 928 00:35:34,386 --> 00:35:36,497 couple more from the phone James uh , 929 00:35:36,497 --> 00:35:39,520 messenger . Uh Thanks for the question . 930 00:35:39,530 --> 00:35:42,489 Um , on PD A funding , I can answer the 931 00:35:42,500 --> 00:35:44,278 first question . Uh Part of the 932 00:35:44,278 --> 00:35:46,444 question that I had on that on , on PD 933 00:35:46,444 --> 00:35:48,760 A funding . Uh A and , and I understand 934 00:35:48,770 --> 00:35:50,826 if you can't talk about this because 935 00:35:50,826 --> 00:35:52,770 you don't wanna , you know , I , I 936 00:35:52,770 --> 00:35:52,219 understand you're a man who doesn't 937 00:35:52,229 --> 00:35:54,340 like the telegraph . But , um , I was 938 00:35:54,340 --> 00:35:56,451 wondering when we talk about that the 939 00:35:56,451 --> 00:35:58,396 PD A funding is about to run out . 940 00:35:58,396 --> 00:36:00,673 We're not able to replenish our stocks . 941 00:36:00,673 --> 00:36:02,673 We're talking weeks , we're talking 942 00:36:02,673 --> 00:36:04,840 months . Is there any sort of timeline 943 00:36:04,840 --> 00:36:07,062 that's , you know , and , and again , I 944 00:36:07,062 --> 00:36:06,429 understand you don't want to telegraph 945 00:36:06,439 --> 00:36:08,929 to the Russians , but what does soon 946 00:36:08,939 --> 00:36:12,860 mean James ? Um , again , you know , 947 00:36:12,870 --> 00:36:14,926 part of this III I don't want to get 948 00:36:14,926 --> 00:36:17,169 into a specific date since a lot will 949 00:36:17,179 --> 00:36:20,790 depend on the size of upcoming PD A 950 00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:23,149 packages . Uh And again , those 951 00:36:23,159 --> 00:36:25,437 spending decisions are informed by the , 952 00:36:25,437 --> 00:36:28,429 the factors that I highlighted . Um But 953 00:36:28,439 --> 00:36:30,550 the bottom line is , it's going to be 954 00:36:30,550 --> 00:36:32,717 sooner rather than later . And so this 955 00:36:32,717 --> 00:36:35,399 is why again , uh the department to 956 00:36:35,409 --> 00:36:37,790 include Secretary Austin has made clear 957 00:36:38,370 --> 00:36:40,949 that we need Congress's support now to 958 00:36:40,959 --> 00:36:43,300 provide Ukraine with the capabilities . 959 00:36:43,310 --> 00:36:45,477 Uh We , we need Congress's support now 960 00:36:45,477 --> 00:36:47,699 so that we can provide Ukraine with the 961 00:36:47,699 --> 00:36:49,921 capabilities that they urgently need to 962 00:36:49,921 --> 00:36:52,088 defend themselves . Ok . Take one more 963 00:36:52,088 --> 00:36:54,199 from the root here . Yes , sir . Hi , 964 00:36:54,199 --> 00:36:56,366 Pat . Thanks for doing this . Um Human 965 00:36:56,366 --> 00:36:58,421 rights watch reported , I believe uh 966 00:36:58,421 --> 00:37:00,532 this morning , that satellite imagery 967 00:37:00,532 --> 00:37:02,643 that they reviewed uh showed that the 968 00:37:02,643 --> 00:37:04,699 Israeli military destroyed extensive 969 00:37:04,699 --> 00:37:06,866 farmland in the Northeast Gaza Strip , 970 00:37:06,866 --> 00:37:09,760 including during the recent truce when 971 00:37:09,770 --> 00:37:11,492 the ID F was in control of the 972 00:37:11,492 --> 00:37:13,492 territory in which the farmland was 973 00:37:13,492 --> 00:37:16,350 destroyed . Um Does the department see 974 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:18,850 a tactical reason to do this when the 975 00:37:18,860 --> 00:37:20,804 ID F is already in control of that 976 00:37:20,804 --> 00:37:22,804 territory ? And does the department 977 00:37:22,804 --> 00:37:24,916 support this proposition that Israeli 978 00:37:24,916 --> 00:37:27,027 officials have thrown out there about 979 00:37:27,027 --> 00:37:28,916 creating a buffer zone inside the 980 00:37:28,916 --> 00:37:31,027 border of Gaza ? Thanks . I , I don't 981 00:37:31,027 --> 00:37:33,193 have any information on that . Jared . 982 00:37:33,193 --> 00:37:35,304 I'd refer you to the Israelis to talk 983 00:37:35,304 --> 00:37:37,193 about their operations . Thanks . 984 00:37:37,193 --> 00:37:37,040 Thanks very much , everybody .