WEBVTT 00:00.720 --> 00:02.900 All right . Well , good afternoon , 00:03.240 --> 00:05.949 everyone . Good to be back in the 00:05.960 --> 00:08.016 briefing room after several weeks of 00:08.016 --> 00:10.510 travel . Just a few things at the top 00:10.520 --> 00:12.353 and then we'll get right to your 00:12.353 --> 00:14.579 questions . Uh On Friday , Secretary 00:14.590 --> 00:16.850 Austin concluded a productive trip to 00:16.860 --> 00:18.749 Brussels where he hosted the 23rd 00:18.749 --> 00:20.916 session of the Ukraine defense contact 00:20.916 --> 00:22.959 group on June 13 , followed by his 00:22.969 --> 00:24.858 participation in the NATO Defense 00:24.858 --> 00:27.950 Minister on June 14th . The CG once 00:27.959 --> 00:30.126 again brought together representatives 00:30.126 --> 00:32.237 from over 50 countries to discuss and 00:32.237 --> 00:34.181 coordinate security assistance for 00:34.181 --> 00:36.126 Ukraine as they continue to defend 00:36.126 --> 00:37.959 against Russian aggression . The 00:37.959 --> 00:39.848 meeting underscored the continued 00:39.848 --> 00:41.737 commitment , unity and resolve of 00:41.737 --> 00:43.737 allies and partners to help bolster 00:43.737 --> 00:45.792 Ukraine's defense infrastructure and 00:45.792 --> 00:47.792 support its sovereignty both in the 00:47.792 --> 00:49.792 near and long term . The subsequent 00:49.792 --> 00:51.959 NATO defense ministerial afforded NATO 00:51.959 --> 00:53.848 allies the opportunity to discuss 00:53.848 --> 00:55.737 several critical issues including 00:55.737 --> 00:57.459 enhanced support for Ukraine , 00:57.459 --> 00:59.459 strengthening nato's deterrence and 00:59.459 --> 01:01.515 defense capabilities and preparation 01:01.515 --> 01:03.292 for the upcoming NATO summit in 01:03.292 --> 01:05.292 Washington . During the ministerial 01:05.292 --> 01:07.515 NATO defense ministers reaffirmed their 01:07.515 --> 01:09.403 commitment to providing sustained 01:09.403 --> 01:11.459 military assistance to Ukraine . The 01:11.459 --> 01:13.181 ministerial was the last major 01:13.181 --> 01:15.237 milestone prior to the upcoming NATO 01:15.237 --> 01:17.099 75th anniversary summit which is 01:17.110 --> 01:19.110 scheduled for here in Washington DC 01:19.110 --> 01:21.589 from July 9 through 11 . Notably , the 01:21.599 --> 01:23.766 summit will bring together leaders and 01:23.766 --> 01:26.510 defense Minister ministers from all 32 01:26.519 --> 01:28.575 NATO member countries to commemorate 01:28.575 --> 01:30.463 our enduring alliance and address 01:30.463 --> 01:32.580 critical global security challenges . 01:33.330 --> 01:35.480 The summit will also underscore our 01:35.489 --> 01:37.267 unwavering mutual commitment to 01:37.267 --> 01:39.690 collective defense transatlantic unity 01:39.699 --> 01:41.921 and ongoing support for Ukraine . We'll 01:41.921 --> 01:43.921 have much more to provide about the 01:43.921 --> 01:45.977 summit in the near future . Shifting 01:45.977 --> 01:48.930 gears on June 9 marines with the 24th 01:48.940 --> 01:51.970 marine expeditionary unit deployed a V 01:51.980 --> 01:55.169 eight B harrier jets MV 22 B Osprey 01:55.180 --> 01:57.236 tilt rotor aircraft and personnel to 01:57.309 --> 01:59.610 Ronee Airport in King Sweden for 01:59.620 --> 02:02.910 exercise ball tops 24 . The detachment 02:02.919 --> 02:04.752 part of marine medium tilt rotor 02:04.752 --> 02:07.330 squadron 365 demonstrates the ability 02:07.339 --> 02:09.570 to project force over 900 nautical 02:09.580 --> 02:11.636 miles and establish a ford operating 02:11.636 --> 02:13.770 base , enhancing combined response 02:13.779 --> 02:16.320 capability and interoperability in the 02:16.330 --> 02:18.389 Baltic Sea region . For more 02:18.399 --> 02:20.699 information on exercise ball tops 24 02:20.710 --> 02:22.929 please contact us Marine Corps Public 02:22.940 --> 02:25.240 Affairs . And finally , the department 02:25.250 --> 02:27.472 announced today at Fort Liberty , North 02:27.472 --> 02:29.194 Carolina . A first of its kind 02:29.194 --> 02:31.417 partnership with Duke Energy to power . 02:31.417 --> 02:33.472 Five major military installations in 02:33.472 --> 02:35.472 North and South Carolina with solar 02:35.472 --> 02:37.800 electricity . Through this procurement , 02:38.089 --> 02:40.339 Duke Energy will provide carbon free 02:40.350 --> 02:42.449 electricity to five major military 02:42.460 --> 02:44.293 installations in North and South 02:44.293 --> 02:46.649 Carolina including us army , Fort 02:46.660 --> 02:48.493 Liberty Marine Corps Base , Camp 02:48.493 --> 02:50.438 Lejeune Marine Corps Air Station , 02:50.438 --> 02:52.493 Cherry Point and Seymour Johnson Air 02:52.493 --> 02:54.604 Force Base in North Carolina and Shaw 02:54.604 --> 02:56.771 Air Force Base in South Carolina . The 02:56.771 --> 02:59.610 contract valued at $248 million will 02:59.619 --> 03:01.770 provide an estimated 4.8 million 03:01.779 --> 03:03.839 megawatt hours of carbon free energy 03:03.850 --> 03:06.679 over a 15 year delivery period from two 03:06.690 --> 03:08.570 newly constructed off site solar 03:08.580 --> 03:10.919 facilities in South Carolina by 03:10.929 --> 03:12.873 supporting the construction of new 03:12.873 --> 03:14.596 clean renewable energy . We're 03:14.596 --> 03:16.818 enhancing our resilience and support of 03:16.818 --> 03:18.818 the war fighter and dod mission for 03:18.818 --> 03:20.707 additional information about this 03:20.707 --> 03:20.669 unique initiative . I'd refer you to 03:20.679 --> 03:23.149 Fort Liberty Public Affairs that I'd be 03:23.160 --> 03:25.327 happy to take your questions . I see A 03:25.327 --> 03:27.438 P is out of the room today . So we'll 03:27.438 --> 03:30.720 go ahead and start with Liz here . Put 03:30.830 --> 03:34.490 you on the spot . Great . Um I guess uh 03:34.500 --> 03:36.550 just to follow up on the continued 03:36.559 --> 03:39.699 houthi attacks , um the Mariner was 03:39.710 --> 03:42.360 killed . Um a different Mar Mariner was 03:42.369 --> 03:44.809 critically injured . Um You know , what 03:44.820 --> 03:46.987 is the Pentagon ? What is Setcom gonna 03:46.987 --> 03:48.987 do differently to prevent this from 03:48.987 --> 03:51.000 happening ? Yeah , thanks . Um So a 03:51.009 --> 03:53.120 again , you know , we're very focused 03:53.120 --> 03:55.949 on uh ensuring that these kinds of 03:55.960 --> 03:59.149 attacks uh are degraded uh that the 03:59.160 --> 04:01.809 Houthis uh will continue to understand 04:01.820 --> 04:03.820 that there's gonna be a price to be 04:03.820 --> 04:06.190 paid for uh essentially preventing 04:06.199 --> 04:08.199 freedom of navigation in this vital 04:08.199 --> 04:10.910 international uh waterway . Uh And , 04:10.919 --> 04:13.141 and it's just completely unacceptable . 04:13.149 --> 04:16.750 So , uh again , uh we , we continue to 04:17.058 --> 04:19.519 work very closely with partners in the 04:19.528 --> 04:21.799 region to provide capabilities to 04:21.808 --> 04:24.519 safeguard maritime travel through the 04:24.528 --> 04:26.378 Red Sea and elsewhere and we'll 04:26.389 --> 04:28.611 continue to stay very focused on that . 04:28.611 --> 04:31.239 A separate topic last week in Brussels , 04:31.248 --> 04:33.678 Secretary Austin called on more NATO 04:33.688 --> 04:35.966 countries to up their defense spending . 04:35.968 --> 04:38.319 What specifically is the US doing to , 04:38.790 --> 04:40.901 you know , get that to happen to have 04:40.901 --> 04:43.012 these other countries just spend more 04:43.012 --> 04:44.957 on their defenses ? Well , I think 04:44.957 --> 04:46.846 you've seen , you know , not only 04:46.846 --> 04:48.901 Secretary Austin , but the Secretary 04:48.901 --> 04:51.123 General has talked of NATO , has talked 04:51.123 --> 04:53.012 about this . You know , it's very 04:53.012 --> 04:55.068 important that we as NATO allies all 04:55.068 --> 04:57.380 contribute uh to our collective defense 04:57.390 --> 04:59.223 and I won't speak for individual 04:59.223 --> 05:00.890 nations and , and I think the 05:00.890 --> 05:03.001 secretary's words on this , speak for 05:03.001 --> 05:05.223 itself . Um Other than to say that that 05:05.223 --> 05:07.446 we all have a vested interest in making 05:07.446 --> 05:09.501 sure a strong secure NATO . Uh and I 05:09.501 --> 05:11.723 think what you continue to see our NATO 05:11.723 --> 05:13.946 allies stepping up uh to do that . So , 05:13.946 --> 05:16.112 um I'm confident that will continue to 05:16.112 --> 05:18.279 be a topic of discussion to include at 05:18.279 --> 05:21.690 the upcoming summit . Thanks . Um Who 05:21.700 --> 05:23.644 does the Pentagon assess to be the 05:23.644 --> 05:26.190 current global leader of Islamic State ? 05:26.200 --> 05:28.367 There's been some confusion about that 05:28.367 --> 05:30.700 recently . Yeah , I mean , I , you know , 05:30.700 --> 05:32.700 uh I'm sure you're tracking that uh 05:32.700 --> 05:36.119 ISIS declared last year that uh 05:36.579 --> 05:40.029 Abu Hafs Al Hashimi Al Qurashi is its 05:40.040 --> 05:42.179 fifth leader . Um You know , they , 05:42.190 --> 05:44.023 they run through a succession of 05:44.023 --> 05:46.190 leaders doesn't seem to be a long life 05:46.190 --> 05:48.339 expectancy these days . Um So , you 05:48.350 --> 05:50.350 know , not a lot of information out 05:50.350 --> 05:52.920 there publicly available . Um But again , 05:52.929 --> 05:54.929 you know , I'm , I'm sure you could 05:54.929 --> 05:57.040 reach out to DN I and they could help 05:57.040 --> 05:59.262 you deep dive on that also to follow up 05:59.262 --> 06:01.980 on Ukraine and F-16s . How many pilots 06:01.989 --> 06:04.970 does the US and its allies in the U DC 06:04.980 --> 06:08.690 G expect to be ready um to fly 06:08.700 --> 06:11.220 F-16s this summer . So that's really a 06:11.230 --> 06:13.119 question that's best addressed by 06:13.119 --> 06:15.230 Ukraine . You know what they're the , 06:15.230 --> 06:17.341 they should be the ones to talk about 06:17.341 --> 06:19.174 pilot management in terms of the 06:19.174 --> 06:21.174 overall size of their fleet , their 06:21.174 --> 06:23.286 overall size of their pilot cadre and 06:23.286 --> 06:25.508 what their expectations are in terms of 06:25.508 --> 06:27.674 um how they're going to implement that 06:27.674 --> 06:29.730 program . Our focus is on working uh 06:29.730 --> 06:32.459 with the Air Capability Coalition to 06:32.470 --> 06:34.526 identify what their requirements are 06:34.526 --> 06:36.637 and then meeting those requirements . 06:36.637 --> 06:38.637 And as you know , uh training being 06:38.637 --> 06:40.470 conducted both in Arizona and in 06:40.470 --> 06:42.526 Denmark , uh there's the capacity to 06:42.526 --> 06:44.581 conduct additional training at other 06:44.581 --> 06:46.526 locations , uh you know , that are 06:46.526 --> 06:48.637 being prepared in Europe . Um Because 06:48.637 --> 06:48.170 again , this will be a long term 06:48.179 --> 06:50.401 proposition in terms of , of supporting 06:50.401 --> 06:52.570 them through the air uh capability 06:52.579 --> 06:56.329 coalition . Thanks to uh pat any update 06:56.339 --> 06:58.450 on the Gaza appear when it will be up 06:58.450 --> 07:00.672 and running again and also with the air 07:00.672 --> 07:02.617 drops , when do you expect them to 07:02.617 --> 07:05.630 resume ? Yeah , in terms of the uh the 07:05.640 --> 07:09.589 J Lots , um we expect uh it will 07:09.600 --> 07:11.656 go operational again this week and I 07:11.656 --> 07:13.822 don't have a specific date to give you 07:13.822 --> 07:15.989 right now . But of course , we'll keep 07:15.989 --> 07:18.100 you posted on that as far as airdrops 07:18.100 --> 07:20.322 go . Um , we do have the capability and 07:20.322 --> 07:22.156 do intend to continue conducting 07:22.156 --> 07:24.378 airdrops . So again , as those happen , 07:24.378 --> 07:26.600 we'll make , you know , ss , um , there 07:26.600 --> 07:28.711 is no hold up per se . There's always 07:28.711 --> 07:30.822 gonna be a variety of factors to take 07:30.822 --> 07:32.989 into account to include the conditions 07:32.989 --> 07:35.322 on the ground , the weather . Uh And so , 07:35.322 --> 07:37.433 you know , very similar to the pier . 07:37.433 --> 07:39.656 Uh You've got to take a variety of , of 07:39.656 --> 07:41.822 factors into account when making those 07:41.822 --> 07:43.933 decisions . Uh But again , you know , 07:43.933 --> 07:46.044 kinda you didn't ask this , but , but 07:46.044 --> 07:47.656 to your point , uh this is a 07:47.656 --> 07:49.656 multifaceted effort to get aid into 07:49.656 --> 07:52.029 Gaza , whether it be via land , air or 07:52.040 --> 07:54.040 sea , we're going to continue to do 07:54.040 --> 07:56.318 what we need to do to make that happen . 07:56.318 --> 07:58.484 Thank you , Laura . And I'll go to the 07:58.484 --> 08:00.540 side of the room , I promise . Thank 08:00.540 --> 08:02.540 you . Um So the New York Times just 08:02.540 --> 08:04.540 reported uh based on a group saying 08:04.540 --> 08:06.596 that the Peer could be dismantled as 08:06.596 --> 08:08.818 early as this coming month in July . Is 08:08.818 --> 08:11.429 that accurate ? Uh Look , we've said 08:11.440 --> 08:13.440 all along , first of all that , the 08:13.440 --> 08:15.750 pier is a temporary measure . Um I 08:15.760 --> 08:17.760 don't have any dates to announce in 08:17.760 --> 08:20.038 terms of when it will cease operations . 08:20.038 --> 08:22.371 Of course , as I just mentioned , we're , 08:22.371 --> 08:24.371 we're looking forward to getting it 08:24.371 --> 08:26.204 operational again soon uh and to 08:26.204 --> 08:29.029 delivering aid Um And you know , we're 08:29.040 --> 08:32.469 going to capitalize on uh on the 08:32.479 --> 08:35.070 conditions . Uh you know , in terms of 08:35.080 --> 08:37.247 weather to get as much aid across that 08:37.247 --> 08:40.219 pier as we can . Is there a delay in 08:40.229 --> 08:43.549 getting the pier back operational now 08:43.559 --> 08:45.859 or is it not repaired ? Well , as you 08:45.869 --> 08:48.091 know , I went to Ashdod to get repaired 08:48.091 --> 08:50.369 and I just said again , it's gonna get , 08:50.369 --> 08:52.091 um , we expect that it will go 08:52.091 --> 08:54.258 operational again this week . And then 08:54.258 --> 08:56.425 I just wanted to ask you to see if you 08:56.425 --> 08:58.425 would confirm the reports last week 08:58.425 --> 09:00.480 that the US is sending an additional 09:00.480 --> 09:02.702 patriot to Ukraine again . I don't have 09:02.702 --> 09:04.536 anything to announce in terms of 09:04.536 --> 09:06.789 additional patriots for Ukraine . As 09:06.799 --> 09:08.799 you saw Secretary Austin say at the 09:08.799 --> 09:11.330 contact group . Uh and , and during the 09:11.340 --> 09:13.562 NATO Defense Ministerials , air defense 09:13.562 --> 09:16.309 continues to be a high priority for 09:16.320 --> 09:18.431 Ukraine . And we're going to continue 09:18.431 --> 09:20.209 to work closely with allies and 09:20.209 --> 09:22.376 partners to ensure they have what they 09:22.376 --> 09:24.653 need to defend their people . Ok . Yes , 09:24.653 --> 09:26.876 sir . Thank you general , a question on 09:26.876 --> 09:29.098 Iraq and this journey where you started 09:29.098 --> 09:31.098 a meeting with the Iraqi government 09:31.098 --> 09:32.876 agency meetings , high military 09:32.876 --> 09:34.931 commission meetings to discuss about 09:34.931 --> 09:37.042 the future of US led global coalition 09:37.042 --> 09:39.153 in Iraq . It's been six months past . 09:39.153 --> 09:41.209 And do you have any updates for me ? 09:41.209 --> 09:43.376 Where are you in these meetings ? Have 09:43.376 --> 09:45.487 you got any decision about the future 09:45.487 --> 09:47.653 of the US led global coalition in Iraq 09:47.653 --> 09:50.909 and the US military presence Um as I 09:50.919 --> 09:53.510 understand it , uh so far , uh the 09:53.520 --> 09:56.239 working groups continue to meet um 09:56.250 --> 09:58.590 within the coming weeks . Uh My 09:58.599 --> 10:00.543 understanding is that participants 10:00.543 --> 10:02.432 intend to have another principals 10:02.432 --> 10:04.719 meeting uh where coalition leaders will 10:04.729 --> 10:07.770 receive a , a progress update . But as 10:07.780 --> 10:09.836 of right now , I don't have anything 10:09.836 --> 10:13.380 additional to , to pass on . Uh not 10:13.390 --> 10:15.668 that I'm aware of . But again , I mean , 10:15.668 --> 10:17.668 obviously the the groups are coming 10:17.668 --> 10:19.779 together to talk about very important 10:19.779 --> 10:21.834 things to include , you know , one , 10:21.834 --> 10:23.890 what is the current threat that ISIS 10:23.890 --> 10:25.557 poses , what is the operating 10:25.557 --> 10:27.557 environment uh and looking at Iraqi 10:27.557 --> 10:29.890 security forces , state uh capabilities . 10:29.890 --> 10:32.112 And so again , I think um understanding 10:32.112 --> 10:33.779 that this is a very important 10:33.779 --> 10:36.250 discussion and a very important set of 10:36.260 --> 10:38.371 meetings , they are going to continue 10:38.371 --> 10:40.482 to stay focused on making progress in 10:40.482 --> 10:42.649 that regard , but I just don't want to 10:42.649 --> 10:44.760 get ahead of it and speculate on when 10:44.760 --> 10:46.982 specifically they will be ready to make 10:46.982 --> 10:49.204 any type of announcements . Thank you , 10:49.204 --> 10:51.174 general , several official sources 10:51.184 --> 10:53.525 report that it is important the US 10:53.534 --> 10:55.765 continue to collaborate with 10:55.775 --> 10:58.375 International Coalition Forces , the 10:58.385 --> 11:01.955 Peshmerga and the Iraqi army to prevent 11:01.965 --> 11:05.465 the reorganization of . What is your 11:05.474 --> 11:08.530 comment on this ? Well , you know , 11:08.539 --> 11:11.890 look , um the Iraqi security 11:11.900 --> 11:14.710 forces uh to include uh 11:14.739 --> 11:17.330 Peshmerga have had a 11:17.510 --> 11:21.400 significant impact on Isis's ability 11:21.409 --> 11:23.380 to conduct the kind of terror 11:23.390 --> 11:25.501 operations that we saw , you know , a 11:25.501 --> 11:27.909 decade ago . Uh And so that , that's a 11:27.919 --> 11:30.760 real testament to the capabilities and 11:30.770 --> 11:32.659 the effectiveness of these forces 11:32.659 --> 11:35.119 working together in the region . So , 11:35.309 --> 11:38.299 uh you know , kind of related to uh 11:38.309 --> 11:40.587 your , your colleague's question there , 11:40.587 --> 11:43.099 we're going to continue to work closely 11:43.260 --> 11:46.299 with the Iraqi government and other 11:46.309 --> 11:48.369 partners in the region uh to , to 11:48.380 --> 11:50.559 include the Peshmerga . Uh when it 11:50.570 --> 11:53.190 comes to what is the ISIS threat , what 11:53.200 --> 11:55.144 do we need to do to ensure that it 11:55.144 --> 11:57.367 can't Resurge in the way that it , that 11:57.367 --> 11:59.589 it had , we had seen it do earlier . Uh 11:59.589 --> 12:01.811 And , and make sure that um at the same 12:01.811 --> 12:03.869 time , uh that our partners have the 12:03.880 --> 12:06.047 capabilities that they need to be able 12:06.047 --> 12:08.340 to ensure that ISIS doesn't come back , 12:08.349 --> 12:10.682 the enduring defeat of ISIS . Thank you . 12:10.682 --> 12:12.960 Let me go to the phone here real quick , 12:12.960 --> 12:16.450 Dan , the Moth Washington Post . Thanks 12:16.460 --> 12:18.849 General . Appreciate your time . Um On 12:18.859 --> 12:22.020 these Houthi Houthi attacks . Uh We've 12:22.030 --> 12:24.141 had a number of discussions this year 12:24.141 --> 12:26.030 about interdiction . Uh Clearly , 12:26.030 --> 12:28.252 weapons are still getting in clear that 12:28.252 --> 12:30.363 clearly that remains a challenge . Is 12:30.363 --> 12:32.141 there anything more uh that the 12:32.141 --> 12:34.363 Pentagon , the US military can do there 12:34.363 --> 12:36.489 uh to get after that problem . Uh And 12:36.500 --> 12:38.669 then , uh relatedly , uh earlier this 12:38.679 --> 12:40.901 year , we saw a number of kind of large 12:40.901 --> 12:42.901 wave attacks by the US military and 12:42.901 --> 12:45.619 allies on the Houthis uh in light of 12:45.630 --> 12:47.630 these attacks over the last several 12:47.630 --> 12:49.630 days . Uh at least one of which was 12:49.630 --> 12:51.686 deadly is the reason we haven't seen 12:51.686 --> 12:54.780 something similar . Um of late . Thanks . 12:56.080 --> 12:58.539 Yeah , thanks Dan . Uh So a few things 12:58.549 --> 13:00.771 you know . So first of all , again , uh 13:00.771 --> 13:03.099 keeping in mind what we're focused on 13:03.109 --> 13:06.570 here , which is uh safety and freedom 13:06.580 --> 13:09.570 of navigation when it comes to uh this , 13:09.580 --> 13:12.030 this vital waterway , the Red Sea 13:12.039 --> 13:13.820 through which 10 to 15% of 13:13.830 --> 13:16.559 international commerce uh traverses . 13:16.630 --> 13:18.630 And so that is something that we're 13:18.630 --> 13:20.797 going to continue to stay focused on . 13:20.797 --> 13:24.450 Um And in terms of um houthi strikes , 13:24.460 --> 13:26.700 I think uh yes , you know , it is 13:26.710 --> 13:28.710 incredibly unfortunate that some of 13:28.710 --> 13:30.849 these strikes have struck vessels as 13:30.859 --> 13:33.070 recently as this week as you saw uh or 13:33.510 --> 13:37.460 over this weekend . Um And um it's 13:37.469 --> 13:39.520 also important to highlight the the 13:39.530 --> 13:43.409 impact that us and international forces 13:43.419 --> 13:45.586 have had in terms of thwarting many of 13:45.586 --> 13:47.808 these attacks and safeguarding shipping 13:47.989 --> 13:49.933 and the lives of Mariners . And so 13:49.933 --> 13:52.156 we're gonna continue to stay focused on 13:52.156 --> 13:54.378 that as you highlight , this is a whole 13:54.378 --> 13:56.211 of government effort in terms of 13:56.211 --> 13:58.433 looking at other levers by which we can 13:58.433 --> 14:01.859 uh compel the houthis to uh stop . But 14:01.869 --> 14:03.980 our primary focus is on degrading and 14:03.980 --> 14:06.609 disrupting their ability to conduct 14:06.619 --> 14:08.770 these kinds of attacks . Uh And in 14:08.780 --> 14:11.058 terms of other things that can be done , 14:11.058 --> 14:13.299 uh you know , I I think that continuing 14:13.309 --> 14:15.760 to put the spotlight uh from various 14:15.770 --> 14:17.830 groups to include the media into the 14:17.840 --> 14:20.219 impacts that Yemen's attacks are having 14:20.229 --> 14:22.679 on its own citizens uh in terms of 14:22.690 --> 14:26.289 their economic environmental and health 14:26.609 --> 14:28.799 uh as well as those their neighbors in 14:28.809 --> 14:30.920 the region , uh you know , would shed 14:30.920 --> 14:33.142 some additional context and perspective 14:33.142 --> 14:35.409 in terms of the fact that that these 14:35.419 --> 14:38.609 strikes are not in any way contributing 14:38.619 --> 14:41.200 to supporting the Palestinian people 14:41.210 --> 14:43.432 that are in fact acts of terrorism that 14:43.432 --> 14:46.039 are , if anything uh making life worse 14:46.049 --> 14:48.869 for the average Yemeni and the people 14:48.880 --> 14:51.039 that live in the region . Uh If you 14:51.049 --> 14:53.216 want to talk about people doing things 14:53.216 --> 14:55.382 to help the Palestinians , look at the 14:55.382 --> 14:57.549 amount of aid that's going into Gaza . 14:57.770 --> 14:59.992 Uh And all we see the um uh the Houthis 14:59.992 --> 15:02.159 doing are launching missiles and , and 15:02.159 --> 15:04.549 trying to kill innocent Mariners . All 15:04.559 --> 15:06.729 right , let me go to uh Phil Stewart 15:06.739 --> 15:10.250 Reuters . Uh Thanks . Um I'd like to 15:10.260 --> 15:12.427 get your reaction to Russian President 15:12.427 --> 15:14.640 Putin's visit to uh North Korea where 15:14.650 --> 15:16.817 he pledged invariable support . Uh For 15:16.817 --> 15:19.010 Pyongyang , Victor Cha said this 15:19.020 --> 15:20.760 deepening Russia North Korea 15:20.770 --> 15:22.770 relationship uh poses the greatest 15:22.780 --> 15:25.429 threat to us national security since 15:25.440 --> 15:28.690 the Korean War . Uh Is he right ? Yeah , 15:28.700 --> 15:30.811 thanks , Phil . Um Again , you know , 15:30.811 --> 15:32.799 we're , we're aware uh of , of the 15:32.809 --> 15:35.859 upcoming visit both to Pyongyang and , 15:35.869 --> 15:39.239 and Hanoi . Um And you've heard others 15:39.250 --> 15:41.599 say this too . Uh The , the co the 15:41.609 --> 15:43.553 deepening cooper operation between 15:43.553 --> 15:46.390 Russia and the D . Pr K uh is something 15:46.400 --> 15:48.539 uh that should be of concern uh 15:48.549 --> 15:50.716 especially to anyone that's interested 15:50.716 --> 15:52.827 in maintaining peace and stability on 15:52.827 --> 15:54.900 the Korean Peninsula . Uh but also 15:54.909 --> 15:57.080 supporting the people of Ukraine as 15:57.090 --> 15:59.257 they continue to fight against Russian 15:59.257 --> 16:01.368 aggression . And so , of course , you 16:01.369 --> 16:04.400 know , you're well aware of uh D PR K 16:04.489 --> 16:07.710 providing ammunition and weapons to 16:07.719 --> 16:09.886 Russia that's been able to help them , 16:09.969 --> 16:11.979 uh perpetuate their illegal and 16:11.989 --> 16:14.590 unprovoked war against the Ukrainian 16:14.599 --> 16:16.710 people . So it's something that we're 16:16.710 --> 16:18.932 going to continue to keep an eye on . I 16:18.932 --> 16:20.988 would say , say though taking a step 16:20.988 --> 16:23.155 back our focus when it comes to uh the 16:23.155 --> 16:25.099 Indo Pacific region and the Korean 16:25.099 --> 16:27.349 Peninsula is on working with allies and 16:27.359 --> 16:29.470 partners to promote peace , stability 16:29.470 --> 16:31.470 and security in the region and that 16:31.470 --> 16:33.581 will continue to be our focus . Thank 16:33.581 --> 16:36.840 you . I have that issue . Putin visit 16:36.849 --> 16:39.190 to North Korea here already in the 16:39.200 --> 16:41.729 Pyongyang right now at the meeting 16:41.739 --> 16:45.549 between President Putin and Kim Jong Un . 16:46.070 --> 16:49.669 The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 16:49.679 --> 16:52.750 agreement was signed between North 16:52.760 --> 16:56.260 Korea and Russia , in particular , it 16:56.270 --> 16:58.760 is known that the strengthening 16:58.770 --> 17:01.630 military cooper operation including 17:02.200 --> 17:05.810 automatic military intervention in case 17:05.819 --> 17:09.079 of emergency will be discussed . 17:09.349 --> 17:12.630 What impact do you think this will have 17:12.640 --> 17:15.829 on security and peace on the Korean 17:15.839 --> 17:19.650 Peninsula as well as in Ukraine ? 17:20.500 --> 17:22.444 Yeah . Well , I'm I'm not going to 17:22.444 --> 17:24.611 comment on specific agreements between 17:24.611 --> 17:26.880 Russia and the D pr K . Other than to 17:26.890 --> 17:29.060 say , our focus continues to be on 17:29.069 --> 17:30.847 promoting regional security and 17:30.847 --> 17:32.958 stability in the region uh as well as 17:32.958 --> 17:35.199 our uh extended deterrence efforts as 17:35.209 --> 17:37.209 it comes to supporting our Rok and 17:37.219 --> 17:40.420 Japanese allies . Uh And so uh I'll 17:40.430 --> 17:43.109 just leave it at that one . Paul Laam , 17:43.410 --> 17:47.339 a commander of the US and Rok combined 17:47.349 --> 17:50.750 the forces command put the brakes on 17:50.760 --> 17:53.560 the South Korean government . Now , the 17:53.569 --> 17:57.250 speaker broadcast against North Korea 17:57.489 --> 18:00.819 and the South Korean government stated 18:00.829 --> 18:03.939 that the redemption of a loud 18:03.949 --> 18:07.469 speaker broadcasting was a self 18:07.729 --> 18:11.500 defense measure in response to North 18:11.510 --> 18:13.599 Korea as a dangerous , you know , 18:14.030 --> 18:17.829 garbage balloon provocations . 18:17.989 --> 18:20.719 What is the Pentagon's assessment on 18:20.729 --> 18:22.910 this ? Yeah . So I'd have to refer you 18:22.920 --> 18:26.890 to us SFJ to respond to that . I 18:26.900 --> 18:29.067 just don't have any insight to provide 18:29.067 --> 18:31.089 on that mean that North Korea can 18:31.099 --> 18:33.930 provocative to South Korea . But South 18:33.939 --> 18:37.130 Korea cannot provocate . Again , you're 18:37.140 --> 18:39.390 asking me a question about an order 18:39.400 --> 18:41.750 that or a request that general camera 18:41.760 --> 18:44.150 made . I'd refer you back to UFJ for 18:44.160 --> 18:46.271 any details on that . Again , I think 18:46.271 --> 18:48.438 it's very clear that the United States 18:48.438 --> 18:50.260 and Ro are working very closely 18:50.270 --> 18:52.326 together when it comes to addressing 18:52.359 --> 18:54.770 security concerns and threats on the 18:54.780 --> 18:57.002 Korean Peninsula . Uh We obviously have 18:57.002 --> 18:58.947 a long standing alliance uh and we 18:58.947 --> 19:01.002 continue to deepen that alliance all 19:01.002 --> 19:02.947 focused on making sure uh that the 19:02.947 --> 19:05.169 people of South Korea uh as well as the 19:05.169 --> 19:07.390 broader Indo Pacific region uh can be 19:07.400 --> 19:09.456 assured of peace and security in the 19:09.456 --> 19:11.678 region . So again , I'd refer you to us 19:11.678 --> 19:13.939 FJ US FK for additional details . Let 19:13.949 --> 19:17.180 me go to lo here . Um There are 19:17.189 --> 19:19.569 claims , well , there was a statement 19:19.579 --> 19:21.579 today by Prime Minister Netanyahu , 19:21.589 --> 19:23.589 that the United States has not been 19:23.589 --> 19:25.719 providing uh weapons and munitions to 19:25.729 --> 19:28.170 Israel uh recently and he calls in the 19:28.180 --> 19:31.310 United States to resume that . Um , 19:31.660 --> 19:34.849 is that the case ? Uh I think publicly 19:34.859 --> 19:37.081 the administration has acknowledged the 19:37.081 --> 19:39.589 £2000 bombs um with regards to Rafa , 19:39.609 --> 19:41.660 but has there been a slowdown , has 19:41.670 --> 19:43.448 there been a delay ? Is there a 19:43.448 --> 19:45.337 production issue ? What , what is 19:45.337 --> 19:47.448 exactly is the Prime Minister talking 19:47.448 --> 19:49.670 about ? Yeah , thanks Louis . Um , so I 19:49.670 --> 19:51.781 won't comment on the Prime Minister's 19:51.781 --> 19:54.003 remarks themselves . As you've heard of 19:54.003 --> 19:56.003 say , we're absolutely committed to 19:56.003 --> 19:58.226 continuing to support Israel's inherent 19:58.226 --> 20:00.430 right to defend itself . Uh , since 20:00.439 --> 20:03.469 Hamas's vicious attack on October 7th , 20:03.479 --> 20:05.479 we've rushed billions of dollars of 20:05.479 --> 20:08.180 security assistance to Israel to enable 20:08.189 --> 20:10.160 them to defend themselves . Uh And 20:10.170 --> 20:12.392 we're going to continue to provide them 20:12.392 --> 20:14.670 with the security assistance they need . 20:14.670 --> 20:17.239 Uh , again , uh for defense . Uh , now 20:17.250 --> 20:20.500 we've paused one shipment of high 20:20.510 --> 20:22.399 payload , unguided munitions . Uh 20:22.399 --> 20:24.566 There's not been a final determination 20:24.660 --> 20:26.660 at this time on how to proceed with 20:26.660 --> 20:28.771 that shipment . Uh As you've heard us 20:28.771 --> 20:30.771 say previously , there are concerns 20:30.771 --> 20:32.882 about the use of these munitions in a 20:32.882 --> 20:35.170 dense urban setting like Rafa . And 20:35.180 --> 20:37.402 we've been very clear with the Israelis 20:37.402 --> 20:39.569 about the steps that they must take to 20:39.569 --> 20:41.569 be effective in this fight . So I'm 20:41.569 --> 20:43.736 just going to leave it at that . So in 20:43.736 --> 20:43.380 other words , when you talked about 20:43.390 --> 20:46.640 rushing aid to Israel , that rushing 20:46.650 --> 20:49.229 aid continues . We continue to support 20:49.239 --> 20:51.839 Israel with security assistance and 20:51.849 --> 20:54.071 their ability to defend themselves . As 20:54.071 --> 20:56.979 I mentioned , we paused one shipment of 20:56.989 --> 21:00.859 £2000 bombs . Question about 21:01.359 --> 21:03.359 the New York Times report about the 21:03.359 --> 21:05.415 fear . Can you confirm that military 21:05.415 --> 21:07.526 officials have told aid organizations 21:07.526 --> 21:11.140 that potentially they the 21:11.150 --> 21:13.479 pier , the J Lodge Trent P may be 21:13.489 --> 21:15.560 dismantled next month . I I'm not 21:15.569 --> 21:17.625 tracking any established timeline at 21:17.625 --> 21:21.520 this point in terms of when uh the pier 21:21.530 --> 21:23.969 will stop operating again with the 21:23.979 --> 21:25.812 caveat that this has always been 21:25.812 --> 21:27.923 intended to be a , a temporary pier . 21:27.923 --> 21:31.000 Uh I'm not aware uh at this point of 21:31.010 --> 21:33.489 any established date of this is when 21:33.500 --> 21:35.670 we're gonna stop and again , taking a 21:35.680 --> 21:38.260 step back here . Uh The big picture 21:38.270 --> 21:41.930 whether it be by land , sea or air , uh 21:41.939 --> 21:45.780 employing all avenues to get assistance 21:45.790 --> 21:49.699 into uh into Gaza , I mean , when you 21:49.709 --> 21:52.479 just think for a second , you know , 21:52.489 --> 21:55.319 since the pier was put in place about a 21:55.329 --> 21:57.329 month ago , we've been able to , to 21:57.329 --> 22:01.260 shuttle over 3500 metric tons or £7.7 22:01.270 --> 22:04.670 million of aid onto the shore in Gaza 22:04.949 --> 22:07.670 uh via this temporary pier . And we're 22:07.680 --> 22:09.847 going to continue to work very closely 22:09.847 --> 22:12.040 with , with aid groups , with the Un , 22:12.050 --> 22:14.106 with the Israelis and other regional 22:14.106 --> 22:16.161 partners . Uh to look at ways to get 22:16.161 --> 22:19.189 additional aid into the Palestinians to 22:19.199 --> 22:21.500 include via this maritime corridor . So 22:21.750 --> 22:23.806 again , when we have anything new to 22:23.806 --> 22:25.917 announce , we certainly will . But as 22:25.917 --> 22:28.083 of right now , that's where we're at . 22:28.083 --> 22:30.250 David . You mentioned the £2000 bombs 22:30.250 --> 22:32.417 included in that shipment . We also an 22:32.417 --> 22:34.530 even larger number , I think of £500 22:34.540 --> 22:38.180 bomb have the £500 bombs in that 22:38.189 --> 22:40.640 suspended shipment been released to go 22:40.650 --> 22:42.817 to Israel . Not to my knowledge , it's 22:42.817 --> 22:44.928 all , it was all part of one shipment 22:44.928 --> 22:47.150 that has been suspended again , pending 22:47.150 --> 22:50.030 further discussion . Ok . 22:51.170 --> 22:53.839 Thank you , General . Uh and Rafah , um 22:53.969 --> 22:55.858 have your Israeli counterparts uh 22:55.858 --> 22:59.489 notified you that uh the invasion of 22:59.500 --> 23:02.880 Rafah is um ending soon . 23:04.390 --> 23:06.969 Um I I'm not . Uh so first of all , 23:06.979 --> 23:09.201 what I'm tracking right now in Rafah is 23:09.201 --> 23:11.530 uh we still continue to see Israel uh 23:11.540 --> 23:15.089 along the uh Philadelphia line . Um 23:15.099 --> 23:17.210 They continue to conduct some limited 23:17.210 --> 23:21.170 operations into Rafah uh to go after uh 23:21.180 --> 23:24.949 Hamas uh units and leaders . 23:25.189 --> 23:28.800 Um We have not seen a large scale , you 23:28.810 --> 23:30.866 used the word invasion . We have not 23:30.866 --> 23:33.032 seen a large scale ground operation at 23:33.032 --> 23:34.866 this point . We're continuing to 23:34.866 --> 23:36.921 monitor that again . We've been very 23:36.921 --> 23:39.032 clear about what our expectations are 23:39.032 --> 23:41.199 in terms of safeguarding civilians . I 23:41.199 --> 23:43.254 do know that a significant number of 23:43.254 --> 23:45.366 civilians have relocated elsewhere in 23:45.366 --> 23:47.699 Gaza that said this continues to be a 23:47.739 --> 23:50.140 topic of discussion between our 23:50.150 --> 23:53.359 leadership and Israeli leaders when it 23:53.369 --> 23:56.400 comes to conducting operations both 23:56.410 --> 23:58.743 within Rafah , but also throughout Gaza . 23:58.743 --> 24:00.869 And last week I asked you about the 24:01.979 --> 24:04.880 civilian told from the Nusra 24:05.689 --> 24:08.760 operation that Israel conducted to uh 24:08.770 --> 24:12.439 rescue four hostages . This happened 24:12.449 --> 24:15.189 with us support intelligence and 24:15.540 --> 24:19.280 logistics as Sullivan uh acknowledged . 24:19.650 --> 24:23.150 Um have you looked into the number of 24:23.160 --> 24:26.349 civilians that were killed during the 24:26.359 --> 24:29.739 operation while noting that the 24:29.750 --> 24:31.861 secretary yourself and the department 24:31.861 --> 24:34.550 have expressed many times concern about 24:34.979 --> 24:38.959 human to because of these , because 24:38.969 --> 24:41.191 of the Israeli operation . I don't have 24:41.191 --> 24:43.339 any updates to provide in terms of 24:43.349 --> 24:45.939 estimated civilian casualties . Other 24:45.949 --> 24:48.530 than again , we do know that there were 24:48.540 --> 24:50.651 civilian casualties as a part of that 24:50.651 --> 24:52.707 operation . I think the last time we 24:52.707 --> 24:54.818 spoke and , and this hasn't changed , 24:54.818 --> 24:56.651 we continue to see two different 24:56.651 --> 24:58.762 numbers being put out by the Israelis 24:58.762 --> 25:01.060 versus Hamas . I don't know what the 25:01.069 --> 25:03.329 facts are other than uh there's an 25:03.339 --> 25:05.117 acknowledgement that there were 25:05.117 --> 25:07.117 civilian casualties as part of that 25:07.117 --> 25:09.800 operation . But again , uh in , in all 25:09.810 --> 25:12.650 of our discussions , uh and we continue 25:12.660 --> 25:16.520 to uh expect and encourage the Israelis 25:16.530 --> 25:18.363 to take civilian casualties into 25:18.363 --> 25:21.589 account . Uh Again , uh recognizing 25:21.599 --> 25:24.420 also , um what we talked about last 25:24.430 --> 25:26.770 time uh was the fact that this was a 25:26.780 --> 25:29.000 hostage rescue , uh that you have 25:29.010 --> 25:31.560 civilians , uh you have hostages being 25:31.569 --> 25:33.680 held among the civilian population uh 25:33.680 --> 25:35.979 by an armed terrorist group , Hamas . 25:36.119 --> 25:38.459 Uh certainly exacerbating the , the 25:38.469 --> 25:40.839 tensions uh and the , the challenging 25:40.849 --> 25:42.839 situation here . So we're going to 25:42.849 --> 25:46.300 continue to expect civilian casualties 25:46.310 --> 25:49.209 to be taken into account civilian harm 25:49.219 --> 25:51.219 mitigation to be taken into account 25:51.219 --> 25:53.441 going forward . No one wants to see any 25:53.441 --> 25:55.330 innocent civilians killed in this 25:55.330 --> 25:56.886 crossfire , whether they be 25:56.886 --> 26:00.689 Palestinians or Israelis . But 26:00.699 --> 26:02.880 this is an operation that the US 26:02.890 --> 26:05.910 supported with logistics and 26:05.920 --> 26:08.550 intelligence and it led to high 26:08.560 --> 26:10.504 civilian casualties . According to 26:10.504 --> 26:12.616 local authorities in Gaza , more than 26:12.616 --> 26:15.469 280 . And as a matter of fact , you've 26:15.479 --> 26:17.646 been expressing concern about civilian 26:17.646 --> 26:19.989 casualties . Isn't , doesn't this 26:20.000 --> 26:22.579 require a look from the department into 26:22.589 --> 26:25.930 what actually happened ? Uh Since you 26:25.939 --> 26:29.479 will as well , uh Vowing to keep 26:29.489 --> 26:31.930 supporting Israel in its efforts to 26:31.939 --> 26:35.130 rescue the captives or hostages . And 26:35.140 --> 26:38.030 just to clarify here , again , the US 26:38.040 --> 26:40.069 was not a part of this military 26:40.079 --> 26:42.349 operation . We were not militarily 26:42.359 --> 26:44.526 involved . We did not have forces that 26:44.526 --> 26:46.969 participated . Uh And again , um 26:46.979 --> 26:49.650 broadly speaking , when it comes to 26:49.660 --> 26:52.380 Israel's hostage recovery efforts , um 26:52.550 --> 26:55.170 We've said that we are supportive uh 26:55.180 --> 26:57.609 and in terms of providing intelligence 26:57.619 --> 26:59.730 information . Um but when it comes to 26:59.730 --> 27:02.469 this specific operation , again , we 27:02.479 --> 27:04.589 were not involved in conducting or 27:04.599 --> 27:07.069 executing or planning this particular 27:07.079 --> 27:10.099 operation operation . Well , we support 27:10.109 --> 27:11.998 Israel's inherent right to defend 27:11.998 --> 27:14.469 itself against Hamas . And again , 27:14.479 --> 27:16.709 we've recognized and acknowledged that 27:16.719 --> 27:18.719 way too many civilians have died in 27:18.719 --> 27:20.552 this conflict and we're going to 27:20.552 --> 27:22.608 continue to encourage and expect our 27:22.608 --> 27:25.119 Israeli partners to take civilian uh 27:25.130 --> 27:27.352 harm into account as they're conducting 27:27.352 --> 27:29.640 operations . Um I'll just leave it at 27:29.650 --> 27:32.099 that . Let me get to some other folks 27:32.109 --> 27:34.290 here . Yeah . Hi . Uh about the Fort 27:34.300 --> 27:36.133 Liberty and other Carolina forts 27:36.133 --> 27:38.199 getting the solar factories or solar 27:38.209 --> 27:40.180 farms . Um , it's part of a Biden 27:40.189 --> 27:42.300 administration executive order that's 27:42.300 --> 27:45.020 planning for 100% clean energy to power 27:45.030 --> 27:48.079 the federal government by 2030 1% of 27:48.089 --> 27:50.609 the way to 100% is the defense 27:50.619 --> 27:53.170 department . And in terms of the cost 27:53.180 --> 27:55.569 of this solar , the solar farms to 27:55.579 --> 27:58.430 power at the bases . Is it better 27:58.439 --> 28:00.550 financially for the department to use 28:00.550 --> 28:02.729 the solar power rather than you know , 28:02.739 --> 28:05.500 go the traditional forms of energy ? 28:05.819 --> 28:07.875 Yeah , let me take that question and 28:07.875 --> 28:11.290 we'll come back to you . Ok . On the 28:11.300 --> 28:13.739 collision between a Chinese vessel and 28:13.750 --> 28:15.839 the Philippine supply ship near the 28:15.859 --> 28:18.489 second Thomas show on Monday , there 28:18.500 --> 28:21.040 are some reports that at least eight of 28:21.050 --> 28:23.689 the Filipino sailors were injured and 28:23.699 --> 28:26.589 one of them was severely injured . So 28:26.599 --> 28:28.599 what's the Pentagon's assessment on 28:28.599 --> 28:30.829 this collision on Monday ? And how much 28:30.839 --> 28:33.061 are you worried about the escalation of 28:33.061 --> 28:35.530 tension between 15 and China ? Yeah . 28:35.540 --> 28:38.369 So uh obviously very concerning uh 28:38.380 --> 28:41.050 reports . Um you know , in terms of the 28:41.060 --> 28:43.479 specifics as it relates to the Filipino 28:43.489 --> 28:45.545 sailors , I'd , I'd refer you to the 28:45.545 --> 28:47.767 Philippine government uh for additional 28:47.767 --> 28:49.989 details . But uh and , and you've heard 28:49.989 --> 28:51.989 others within the US government say 28:51.989 --> 28:54.300 this uh this kind of behavior is uh 28:54.310 --> 28:56.369 provocative , it's reckless , it's 28:56.380 --> 28:58.760 unnecessary . Uh And as you highlight , 28:58.770 --> 29:01.329 it could lead to something uh bigger 29:01.339 --> 29:03.579 and more violent . And so um we're 29:03.589 --> 29:06.140 going to continue to stand uh with our 29:06.150 --> 29:08.180 Philippine allies , we condemn the 29:08.189 --> 29:10.739 escalatory and irresponsible actions by 29:10.750 --> 29:13.790 the Pr C uh to deny the Philippines 29:13.800 --> 29:15.650 from executing a lawful maritime 29:15.660 --> 29:18.280 operation in the South China Sea . And 29:18.290 --> 29:20.457 as you've heard , Secretary Austin and 29:20.457 --> 29:22.457 others say the Philippines rightful 29:22.457 --> 29:24.679 legal maritime claims must be protected 29:24.679 --> 29:26.568 time for a few more . Yes , sir . 29:27.709 --> 29:29.653 Regarding to the escalation in the 29:29.653 --> 29:32.160 south of Lebanon . So do you still have 29:32.170 --> 29:35.839 concerns that this war could be expand 29:36.069 --> 29:39.670 between Hezbollah and Israel and even 29:39.680 --> 29:42.810 if there is and if there is no deal for 29:42.819 --> 29:44.986 a ceasefire deal , do you believe that 29:45.099 --> 29:47.969 de escalate could happen very soon ? 29:47.979 --> 29:50.209 And uh do you still believe that 29:50.280 --> 29:53.079 Hezbollah has still not jumped in to 29:53.089 --> 29:56.670 full feet in this war ? Yeah , we , we 29:56.680 --> 29:59.530 do remain concerned about tensions 29:59.540 --> 30:02.280 along the border and of course , we 30:02.290 --> 30:04.234 continue to encourage a diplomatic 30:04.234 --> 30:06.560 solution preventing a wider regional 30:06.569 --> 30:09.390 conflict has been a primary focus for 30:09.400 --> 30:11.456 this department and the , and the US 30:11.456 --> 30:13.640 government writ large since Hamas's 30:13.650 --> 30:16.979 attack on October 7th . Uh And , and as 30:16.989 --> 30:18.989 you've heard , Secretary Austin say 30:18.989 --> 30:21.156 we're going to continue to work toward 30:21.156 --> 30:23.322 that end . Uh So just leave it there . 30:24.359 --> 30:26.890 The other one today , Hezbollah had 30:26.900 --> 30:29.130 published a video of what it says , it 30:29.140 --> 30:31.180 was a footage gathered from its 30:31.300 --> 30:34.920 monitoring um uh including the 30:34.930 --> 30:38.670 city of Haifa Sea and airport and some 30:38.680 --> 30:40.791 sensitive locations inside the side . 30:41.119 --> 30:43.170 Have you seen that uh video and you 30:43.180 --> 30:45.236 have any comment about that ? I I've 30:45.236 --> 30:47.458 not seen that video . So I'm , I'm just 30:47.458 --> 30:49.347 not able to comment . Let me do a 30:49.347 --> 30:51.569 couple more from the phone here . I may 30:51.569 --> 30:53.680 go to Mike uh from Washington Times . 30:53.680 --> 30:55.847 Hi , thanks , Pat . I was wondering if 30:55.847 --> 30:57.791 the Pentagon has a definition of a 30:57.791 --> 31:00.609 strategic success for uh operation , 31:00.619 --> 31:02.675 prosperity guarding and the other uh 31:02.675 --> 31:04.786 mission there in the Red Sea area . I 31:04.786 --> 31:06.730 know you're shooting down a lot of 31:06.730 --> 31:08.619 drones and striking a few targets 31:08.619 --> 31:10.397 occasionally inside Yemen . But 31:10.397 --> 31:12.589 commercial ship traffic uh through the 31:12.599 --> 31:14.979 region has not increased appreciably 31:14.989 --> 31:18.599 since it began . Uh you know , playing 31:18.750 --> 31:20.806 Hoy whack a mole isn't the objective 31:20.806 --> 31:22.528 here . So what actually is the 31:22.528 --> 31:24.306 objective where you say we have 31:24.306 --> 31:26.959 succeeded ? Yeah , thanks Mike . So , 31:26.969 --> 31:28.969 you know , let me just kind of turn 31:28.969 --> 31:31.191 this around a little bit here because , 31:31.191 --> 31:33.358 you know , there's a , this discussion 31:33.358 --> 31:35.739 about , you know , has deterrent failed . 31:35.910 --> 31:38.132 Um What , what is it that you're trying 31:38.132 --> 31:40.299 to achieve here ? And it's , it's what 31:40.299 --> 31:42.410 I talked about earlier , right ? It's 31:42.410 --> 31:44.577 about preserving freedom of navigation 31:44.577 --> 31:46.799 in this vital waterway . Uh And , and I 31:46.799 --> 31:48.632 would say that really , it's the 31:48.632 --> 31:51.130 houthis that have failed uh to deter 31:51.140 --> 31:53.362 the United States and the international 31:53.362 --> 31:55.584 community from continuing to operate in 31:55.584 --> 31:57.418 the Red Sea . You know , they've 31:57.418 --> 31:59.640 conducted over 100 and 90 attacks , the 31:59.640 --> 32:01.473 vast majority of which have been 32:01.473 --> 32:03.140 knocked down thanks to us and 32:03.140 --> 32:05.699 international efforts to help safeguard 32:05.709 --> 32:08.099 shipping and the lives of Mariners uh 32:08.109 --> 32:10.699 through operations like operation 32:10.709 --> 32:12.265 prosperity . Guardian . And 32:12.265 --> 32:14.431 additionally , as I mentioned before , 32:14.431 --> 32:16.598 the Houthis have been all over the map 32:16.598 --> 32:18.709 in terms of their purported rationale 32:18.709 --> 32:20.931 for conducting these strikes versus the 32:20.931 --> 32:23.098 reality of their actual operations and 32:23.098 --> 32:25.042 the impact . Uh Whereas we've been 32:25.042 --> 32:27.098 again , very clear why we're there , 32:27.098 --> 32:28.820 which is safety and freedom of 32:28.820 --> 32:31.042 navigation uh in this vitally important 32:31.042 --> 32:33.750 waterway . So , uh strategic success 32:33.760 --> 32:35.427 looks like the ability of the 32:35.427 --> 32:37.593 international community to continue to 32:37.750 --> 32:40.449 uh transit the Red Sea . Uh And we're 32:40.459 --> 32:43.170 gonna keep after it . Thanks . All 32:43.180 --> 32:45.291 right , let me go to JJ Green WTO P . 32:46.619 --> 32:48.849 Thanks . General Reuters is reporting 32:48.859 --> 32:51.630 right now that the Israeli defense 32:51.640 --> 32:54.099 forces have approved operational plans 32:54.109 --> 32:57.160 for an offensive in Lebanon . And this 32:57.170 --> 32:59.392 is one of the things , the three things 32:59.392 --> 33:01.530 that the US military was trying to 33:01.540 --> 33:03.596 prevent when it was sent there , the 33:03.596 --> 33:05.910 expanded forces were sent there . Any 33:05.920 --> 33:08.253 thoughts about that . And then secondly , 33:08.253 --> 33:10.253 the Russian flotilla has moved away 33:10.253 --> 33:12.253 from Cuba and moved on to someplace 33:12.253 --> 33:14.364 else . Can , what can you share about 33:14.364 --> 33:16.476 what you learned about what they were 33:16.476 --> 33:18.698 doing there and um keeping tabs on them 33:18.698 --> 33:20.920 now where they may be going , where may 33:20.920 --> 33:23.087 they , may they be going ? Thank you . 33:23.087 --> 33:25.309 Yeah , thanks JJ . Um Again , I when it 33:25.309 --> 33:27.309 comes to the situation along the uh 33:27.309 --> 33:29.420 Israel Lebanon border , again , our , 33:29.420 --> 33:31.800 our focus is on uh working with 33:31.810 --> 33:33.869 partners in the region to include 33:33.880 --> 33:36.290 Israel , obviously uh to encourage a 33:36.300 --> 33:39.060 diplomatic resolution . Uh So I'm not 33:39.069 --> 33:41.013 going to get into hypotheticals or 33:41.013 --> 33:43.420 speculate on , on what might happen 33:43.430 --> 33:45.652 other than to say , no one wants to see 33:45.652 --> 33:48.410 a wider regional war . Uh And again , 33:48.420 --> 33:50.642 we'll , we'll stay focused on that um , 33:50.642 --> 33:53.670 as it relates to uh any Russian naval 33:53.680 --> 33:57.089 activity , uh you know , near Cuba . Um , 33:57.250 --> 33:59.250 look , I'll , I'll refer you to the 33:59.250 --> 34:01.510 Russian uh mod or navy to talk about 34:01.520 --> 34:03.829 their , their current operations as you 34:03.839 --> 34:06.006 know , and as you've heard us say , uh 34:06.006 --> 34:08.310 we obviously closely monitored , um 34:08.360 --> 34:11.500 don't see any threat to the homeland . 34:11.659 --> 34:13.899 Uh And , and these types of exercises 34:13.909 --> 34:16.128 are not new . Um We've , we've seen 34:16.138 --> 34:18.249 them take place , you know , over the 34:18.249 --> 34:19.916 years . Uh So again , nothing 34:19.916 --> 34:21.971 concerning from our standpoint , but 34:21.971 --> 34:24.249 we'll again , continue to monitor . Ok , 34:24.249 --> 34:26.416 I can do a couple more . Yes , ma'am . 34:26.416 --> 34:29.169 Um So earlier today , Taiwanese Defense 34:29.179 --> 34:32.449 Minister Ku said uh that they should 34:32.459 --> 34:34.629 expect the delivery of the two B anti 34:34.679 --> 34:37.350 tank missiles and 100 launch purchase 34:37.379 --> 34:40.870 missiles uh by the end of this year . 34:41.280 --> 34:43.750 Number one , why is it taking this long ? 34:43.760 --> 34:46.590 Why isn't there a two year delay ? Uh 34:46.600 --> 34:48.711 Look , I , I don't have any specifics 34:48.711 --> 34:50.689 to provide in terms of uh aid 34:50.699 --> 34:54.159 deliveries to Taiwan . Um Other than to 34:54.169 --> 34:56.225 say , again , in accordance with the 34:56.225 --> 34:58.113 Taiwan Relations Act , uh We will 34:58.113 --> 35:00.449 continue to work with Taiwan to ensure 35:00.459 --> 35:02.681 they have the capabilities uh that they 35:02.681 --> 35:06.159 need to defend themselves and go ahead 35:06.169 --> 35:09.239 and go up to Louis's question . If you 35:09.250 --> 35:11.250 know the US paused one shipment of 35:11.260 --> 35:15.050 £2000 bombs to Israel since then . How 35:15.060 --> 35:17.850 many security packages has the US 35:17.860 --> 35:20.209 military provided ? Israel ? I , I 35:20.219 --> 35:22.449 don't have any statistics to pass along 35:22.459 --> 35:24.570 Carla , other than to say again , you 35:24.570 --> 35:27.250 know , from the outset of hamas' attack 35:27.260 --> 35:29.770 on Israel , we have worked closely to 35:29.780 --> 35:32.070 ensure that they have security 35:32.080 --> 35:33.913 assistance , they need to defend 35:33.913 --> 35:35.691 themselves . So there have been 35:35.691 --> 35:37.524 additional packages since then , 35:37.524 --> 35:39.580 correct ? And then to follow up what 35:39.580 --> 35:41.524 you said to me , you said that the 35:41.524 --> 35:43.747 global leader of ISIS , he doesn't seem 35:43.747 --> 35:45.802 to have a long life expectancy . Can 35:45.802 --> 35:47.636 you confirm that the US military 35:47.636 --> 35:49.858 targeted the global leader of ISIS on a 35:49.858 --> 35:52.760 strike on May 31st ? Um You know , 35:53.320 --> 35:55.830 there was uh uh I would , I would just 35:55.840 --> 35:58.062 point you back to Africom s statement . 35:58.062 --> 36:00.229 I don't have anything uh additional to 36:00.229 --> 36:02.396 provide at this point . Of course , if 36:02.396 --> 36:04.507 there's updates , um we'll be sure to 36:04.507 --> 36:06.673 let you know . Ok , thanks very much , 36:06.673 --> 36:05.719 everybody . Appreciate it .