1 00:00:00,959 --> 00:00:03,690 Absolutely , actually , it's just 2 00:00:03,700 --> 00:00:07,210 enough . Ok . Are we 3 00:00:07,769 --> 00:00:10,529 having a party and am I invited ? All 4 00:00:10,539 --> 00:00:12,706 right , great . Uh So good afternoon . 5 00:00:12,706 --> 00:00:15,500 Um uh Just a few things at the top and 6 00:00:15,510 --> 00:00:17,843 then happy to take your questions first . 7 00:00:17,843 --> 00:00:20,010 The Department of Defense continues to 8 00:00:20,010 --> 00:00:22,066 support Interagency hurricane Helene 9 00:00:22,066 --> 00:00:24,121 recovery efforts with North Carolina 10 00:00:24,121 --> 00:00:26,232 National Guard and F Ma in the lead . 11 00:00:26,232 --> 00:00:29,229 More than 6700 National Guardsmen from 12 00:00:29,239 --> 00:00:31,180 16 states have been spearheading 13 00:00:31,190 --> 00:00:33,301 recovery efforts across the southeast 14 00:00:33,301 --> 00:00:35,580 region in support of their governors 15 00:00:35,590 --> 00:00:37,368 providing critical aid to those 16 00:00:37,368 --> 00:00:39,534 impacted by this storm's devastation . 17 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,040 Additionally , as we've said in our 18 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,207 statement yesterday , Secretary Austin 19 00:00:44,207 --> 00:00:46,373 has authorized 1000 active duty troops 20 00:00:46,373 --> 00:00:48,596 from Fort Liberty to assist fa in these 21 00:00:48,596 --> 00:00:50,762 response efforts . The department will 22 00:00:50,762 --> 00:00:52,929 continue to be fully engaged with FEMA 23 00:00:52,929 --> 00:00:54,707 and our federal state and local 24 00:00:54,707 --> 00:00:56,762 partners to ensure we are supporting 25 00:00:56,762 --> 00:00:58,762 and coordinating recovery efforts . 26 00:00:58,762 --> 00:01:00,984 Shifting gears , Secretary Austin spoke 27 00:01:00,984 --> 00:01:03,207 by phone to his Ukrainian counterpart , 28 00:01:03,207 --> 00:01:05,660 Defense Minister Umarov . Today the two 29 00:01:05,669 --> 00:01:07,780 leaders discussed current battlefield 30 00:01:07,780 --> 00:01:09,613 dynamics and security assistance 31 00:01:09,613 --> 00:01:11,836 priorities . Minis Minister Umarov also 32 00:01:11,836 --> 00:01:13,613 provided an update on Ukraine's 33 00:01:13,613 --> 00:01:15,836 operations . Battlefield and capability 34 00:01:15,836 --> 00:01:17,558 needs . A full readout will be 35 00:01:17,558 --> 00:01:19,725 available on defense.gov later today . 36 00:01:19,725 --> 00:01:21,836 Looking ahead to tomorrow , Secretary 37 00:01:21,836 --> 00:01:23,947 Austin will travel to Scott Air Force 38 00:01:23,947 --> 00:01:25,502 Base to preside over the US 39 00:01:25,502 --> 00:01:27,336 Transportation command change of 40 00:01:27,336 --> 00:01:29,769 command ceremony where General 41 00:01:29,889 --> 00:01:31,889 Jacqueline Van Vost will relinquish 42 00:01:31,900 --> 00:01:33,980 command to General Randall Reed . I 43 00:01:33,989 --> 00:01:35,933 won't get ahead of the secretary's 44 00:01:35,933 --> 00:01:37,989 remarks , but the department is very 45 00:01:37,989 --> 00:01:40,045 grateful to General Van Vost for her 46 00:01:40,045 --> 00:01:42,267 decades of honorable service to the Air 47 00:01:42,267 --> 00:01:44,378 Force , the Department of Defense and 48 00:01:44,378 --> 00:01:46,433 to our nation . The ceremony and the 49 00:01:46,433 --> 00:01:48,267 secretary's remarks will be live 50 00:01:48,267 --> 00:01:48,089 streamed on defense.gov tomorrow . 51 00:01:49,050 --> 00:01:51,050 Shifting gears again . This past 52 00:01:51,059 --> 00:01:53,170 weekend , the Royal Australian Navy , 53 00:01:53,170 --> 00:01:55,226 the Royal Australian Air Force , the 54 00:01:55,226 --> 00:01:57,629 Japan Maritime Self Defense Force , the 55 00:01:57,639 --> 00:01:59,669 Royal New Zealand Navy , the armed 56 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:01,736 forces of the Philippines and the US 57 00:02:01,736 --> 00:02:04,589 Navy conducted a maritime Cooper cooper 58 00:02:04,669 --> 00:02:07,000 activity within the Philippines exec 59 00:02:07,029 --> 00:02:09,160 exclusive economic zone in the South 60 00:02:09,169 --> 00:02:12,080 China Sea . Exercises like this 61 00:02:12,089 --> 00:02:13,811 demonstrate the strength , the 62 00:02:13,811 --> 00:02:15,700 relationship between partners and 63 00:02:15,700 --> 00:02:17,589 allies and enhance co-operation , 64 00:02:17,589 --> 00:02:19,256 interoperability and combined 65 00:02:19,256 --> 00:02:21,256 capabilities in the maritime domain 66 00:02:21,256 --> 00:02:23,539 contributing to peace , stability and 67 00:02:23,550 --> 00:02:25,772 upholding the freedom of navigation and 68 00:02:25,772 --> 00:02:27,994 overflight in the Indo Pacific region . 69 00:02:27,994 --> 00:02:30,106 Of note , this was the first time New 70 00:02:30,106 --> 00:02:32,106 Zealand participated . And it shows 71 00:02:32,106 --> 00:02:33,939 that co-operation represents the 72 00:02:33,939 --> 00:02:35,883 centerpiece of our approach to our 73 00:02:35,883 --> 00:02:37,550 secure , to a secure and more 74 00:02:37,550 --> 00:02:39,606 prosperous region where aircraft and 75 00:02:39,606 --> 00:02:41,717 ships of all nations may fly sail and 76 00:02:41,717 --> 00:02:43,939 operate anywhere that international law 77 00:02:43,939 --> 00:02:46,520 allows . And finally , well , actually , 78 00:02:46,529 --> 00:02:48,585 I have one more thing . So second to 79 00:02:48,585 --> 00:02:50,640 last thing uh in an effort to reduce 80 00:02:50,640 --> 00:02:52,585 out of pocket expenses for service 81 00:02:52,585 --> 00:02:54,807 members and their families on permanent 82 00:02:54,807 --> 00:02:57,029 change of station orders . Earlier this 83 00:02:57,029 --> 00:02:59,085 week , the department launched a new 84 00:02:59,085 --> 00:02:58,850 pilot program that will reimburse 85 00:02:58,860 --> 00:03:00,949 active duty service members for the 86 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:03,127 transportation expenses of a childcare 87 00:03:03,127 --> 00:03:04,904 provider . When childcare isn't 88 00:03:04,904 --> 00:03:06,960 available at military operated child 89 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,270 development center at a new permanent 90 00:03:09,279 --> 00:03:11,335 duty station within 30 days of their 91 00:03:11,335 --> 00:03:13,869 reporting date , service members may be 92 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,589 reimbursed up to $500 for P CS , moves 93 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:19,520 between Conus locations and up to $1500 94 00:03:19,529 --> 00:03:23,229 for moves to or from locations outside 95 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,018 the continental United States , 96 00:03:25,018 --> 00:03:27,059 including Alaska and Hawaii and US 97 00:03:27,070 --> 00:03:29,237 territories and possessions for travel 98 00:03:29,237 --> 00:03:31,570 costs of a childcare provider , taking 99 00:03:31,580 --> 00:03:33,413 care of people is a priority for 100 00:03:33,413 --> 00:03:35,580 Secretary Austin and the Department of 101 00:03:35,580 --> 00:03:37,802 Defense . And this program reflects our 102 00:03:37,802 --> 00:03:39,858 ongoing effort to learn , listen and 103 00:03:39,858 --> 00:03:41,858 lead on issues that are critical to 104 00:03:41,858 --> 00:03:43,691 meeting the unique challenges of 105 00:03:43,691 --> 00:03:45,302 military life . And for more 106 00:03:45,302 --> 00:03:47,302 information , please visit military 107 00:03:47,302 --> 00:03:49,302 child share . I'm so sorry , please 108 00:03:49,302 --> 00:03:51,320 visit military childcare.com . And 109 00:03:51,330 --> 00:03:53,552 before we move on to questions , I just 110 00:03:53,552 --> 00:03:55,608 wanna say happy birthday to Mr Chris 111 00:03:55,608 --> 00:03:57,274 Carver who did not want to be 112 00:03:57,274 --> 00:03:59,497 celebrated , but everyone should go say 113 00:03:59,497 --> 00:04:01,719 happy birthday to him later today . All 114 00:04:01,719 --> 00:04:00,850 right , with that happy to turn to 115 00:04:00,860 --> 00:04:03,130 questions , Tara . Uh Thanks Sabrina . 116 00:04:03,139 --> 00:04:05,250 I'm surprised that uh there wasn't an 117 00:04:05,250 --> 00:04:07,490 Israel topper in there and just 118 00:04:07,500 --> 00:04:10,190 wondering , um have you had any 119 00:04:10,199 --> 00:04:12,289 additional conversations with the 120 00:04:12,300 --> 00:04:16,209 Israelis on the this tension that we 121 00:04:16,220 --> 00:04:18,053 are seeing right now ? We've got 122 00:04:18,053 --> 00:04:20,164 thousands of extra service members in 123 00:04:20,164 --> 00:04:22,442 the region . What's going on with them ? 124 00:04:22,442 --> 00:04:24,553 Are they , you know , shift , are you 125 00:04:24,553 --> 00:04:26,720 shifting force posture ? You know , it 126 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:28,776 seems like this is kind of a waiting 127 00:04:28,776 --> 00:04:30,887 game at this point . So in terms of , 128 00:04:30,887 --> 00:04:32,942 um you know , what our forces in the 129 00:04:32,942 --> 00:04:35,164 Middle East are doing right now , their 130 00:04:35,164 --> 00:04:35,109 mission hasn't changed , they're there , 131 00:04:35,190 --> 00:04:37,390 um you know , to protect us forces in 132 00:04:37,399 --> 00:04:39,929 the region , um if called upon for the 133 00:04:39,940 --> 00:04:42,320 defense of Israel . But , um , as you 134 00:04:42,329 --> 00:04:45,019 saw , uh , that was put into , into 135 00:04:45,029 --> 00:04:46,910 place on October 1st , when Iran 136 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,440 launched another attack against Israel , 137 00:04:49,450 --> 00:04:52,390 our forces , of course , stood with the 138 00:04:52,399 --> 00:04:54,566 ID F and , and the operation and , you 139 00:04:54,566 --> 00:04:56,829 know , engaged , um , you know , nearly 140 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:59,006 200 ballistic missiles that were fired 141 00:04:59,006 --> 00:05:01,172 from Iran . Um , so the mission hasn't 142 00:05:01,172 --> 00:05:03,395 changed . Um , they continue to operate 143 00:05:03,395 --> 00:05:06,140 within the A or , um , and , you know , 144 00:05:06,149 --> 00:05:08,482 we'll continue to do so . I , I'm sorry , 145 00:05:08,482 --> 00:05:10,593 what was your following question ? It 146 00:05:10,593 --> 00:05:12,760 just seems like right now there's this 147 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:14,760 very tense moment of waiting to see 148 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:16,871 what Israel's response will be . What 149 00:05:16,871 --> 00:05:18,871 is this building doing right now to 150 00:05:18,871 --> 00:05:21,038 help tamper down that tension . And if 151 00:05:21,038 --> 00:05:23,260 it doesn't , if Israel doesn't listen , 152 00:05:23,260 --> 00:05:25,316 is the secretary prepared to send us 153 00:05:25,316 --> 00:05:27,427 troops to combat , to defend Israel ? 154 00:05:27,427 --> 00:05:29,260 Well , that's something that the 155 00:05:29,260 --> 00:05:31,482 president has spoken about . Um , we're 156 00:05:31,482 --> 00:05:31,250 not looking for a wider regional 157 00:05:31,260 --> 00:05:33,371 conflict . We're not seeking war with 158 00:05:33,371 --> 00:05:36,690 any group or organization or country in 159 00:05:36,700 --> 00:05:38,940 the region . Um , you know , we 160 00:05:38,950 --> 00:05:41,339 continue to engage the Israelis , you 161 00:05:41,350 --> 00:05:43,869 know , very frequently . Uh , we are 162 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:45,991 certainly talking to them about their 163 00:05:45,991 --> 00:05:48,158 response but what their response might 164 00:05:48,158 --> 00:05:50,213 be , I'm just not going to speculate 165 00:05:50,213 --> 00:05:52,158 further on , but we do continue to 166 00:05:52,158 --> 00:05:54,269 engage with them . Um , and I'll just 167 00:05:54,269 --> 00:05:56,380 have to leave it at that , Jen . Um , 168 00:05:56,380 --> 00:05:57,991 Sabrina , how many of the 12 169 00:05:57,991 --> 00:06:00,102 interceptors that were fired from the 170 00:06:00,102 --> 00:06:02,339 US warships actually engaged and 171 00:06:02,350 --> 00:06:04,399 intercepted the ballistic missiles 172 00:06:04,410 --> 00:06:06,577 fired from Iran ? So we're still doing 173 00:06:06,577 --> 00:06:08,632 our own assessment . So I just don't 174 00:06:08,632 --> 00:06:10,966 have exact numbers to provide right now . 175 00:06:10,966 --> 00:06:13,021 And how much would that have cost 12 176 00:06:13,021 --> 00:06:15,529 interceptors and do those ships now 177 00:06:15,540 --> 00:06:18,230 need to resupply ? Um And then I have a 178 00:06:18,239 --> 00:06:20,128 follow up . Sure . So in terms of 179 00:06:20,128 --> 00:06:22,461 resupply , um and , and cost , you know , 180 00:06:22,470 --> 00:06:24,470 that's something that I think I , I 181 00:06:24,470 --> 00:06:26,692 think Centcom should really speak to or 182 00:06:26,692 --> 00:06:29,239 I'm sorry , or um U com . Um and , and 183 00:06:29,250 --> 00:06:31,250 six fleet , I just don't have those 184 00:06:31,250 --> 00:06:33,306 numbers readily in front of me right 185 00:06:33,306 --> 00:06:35,528 now . Um So I I'd defer to them on , on 186 00:06:35,528 --> 00:06:37,583 cost and , and resupply , but as you 187 00:06:37,583 --> 00:06:39,583 know , our ships move in and out of 188 00:06:39,583 --> 00:06:41,306 ports , they get retrofitted , 189 00:06:41,306 --> 00:06:43,472 resupplied um at any given time . So I 190 00:06:43,472 --> 00:06:45,583 would assume as they expended some of 191 00:06:45,583 --> 00:06:47,639 those interceptors , eventually they 192 00:06:47,639 --> 00:06:49,528 would have to get , um you know , 193 00:06:49,528 --> 00:06:51,472 backfilled . But in terms of their 194 00:06:51,472 --> 00:06:53,806 movements , I'd refer you to six weight . 195 00:06:53,806 --> 00:06:53,739 Is there some discussion of maybe 196 00:06:53,750 --> 00:06:55,583 needing a supplemental because I 197 00:06:55,583 --> 00:06:58,649 believe that President Biden's defense 198 00:06:58,660 --> 00:07:00,771 requests this year did not have money 199 00:07:00,771 --> 00:07:02,938 for missile defense . I'm not tracking 200 00:07:02,938 --> 00:07:05,216 additional requests for a supplemental . 201 00:07:05,216 --> 00:07:07,049 That doesn't mean that something 202 00:07:07,049 --> 00:07:09,216 couldn't happen down the road . But at 203 00:07:09,216 --> 00:07:08,369 this moment , I'm just not tracking 204 00:07:08,380 --> 00:07:10,709 anything additional . Um , you know , 205 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,329 we are three days into operating under 206 00:07:14,339 --> 00:07:16,283 a continuing resolution . We still 207 00:07:16,283 --> 00:07:18,690 don't have our fy 25 budget passed . Um , 208 00:07:18,700 --> 00:07:21,750 so the biggest full court , full court 209 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:23,871 press from this building is of course 210 00:07:23,871 --> 00:07:26,630 urging Congress to pass um , an 211 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:28,859 appropriations bill . So we don't have 212 00:07:28,869 --> 00:07:30,980 to operate under the supplemental . I 213 00:07:30,980 --> 00:07:32,702 mean , sorry , this continuing 214 00:07:32,702 --> 00:07:34,869 resolution . Um You know , that's what 215 00:07:34,869 --> 00:07:37,036 we're , that's something that's top of 216 00:07:37,036 --> 00:07:39,202 mind for this building and we're going 217 00:07:39,202 --> 00:07:38,519 to continue to engage with Congress on 218 00:07:38,529 --> 00:07:40,929 that . You sort of hinted at this when 219 00:07:40,940 --> 00:07:43,273 he said the US would help defend Israel , 220 00:07:43,989 --> 00:07:46,709 but more specifically will the US 221 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,480 military take part in any offensive 222 00:07:49,489 --> 00:07:51,890 operation Israeli operations against 223 00:07:51,899 --> 00:07:54,177 Iran . So what I can tell you , Ari is , 224 00:07:54,177 --> 00:07:56,288 you know , we're certainly consulting 225 00:07:56,288 --> 00:07:58,480 with Israel and talking to them about 226 00:07:58,489 --> 00:08:00,711 their response , but I'm just not going 227 00:08:00,711 --> 00:08:02,767 to go any further than that . The US 228 00:08:02,767 --> 00:08:04,989 military could take part . I'm just not 229 00:08:04,989 --> 00:08:04,510 going to go any further than what I 230 00:08:04,519 --> 00:08:06,739 have . The Secretary and Defense 231 00:08:06,750 --> 00:08:08,920 Minister Galant speak regularly , but 232 00:08:08,929 --> 00:08:10,929 there have been many in a number of 233 00:08:10,929 --> 00:08:12,985 instances in the past where Minister 234 00:08:12,985 --> 00:08:15,096 Galant has not notified the secretary 235 00:08:15,096 --> 00:08:17,373 before a major operation most recently . 236 00:08:17,373 --> 00:08:19,485 Um , the killing of NASR , why do you 237 00:08:19,485 --> 00:08:21,540 believe the Israelis will share with 238 00:08:21,540 --> 00:08:23,540 you what they're going to do before 239 00:08:23,540 --> 00:08:25,540 they do it this time ? Well , we've 240 00:08:25,540 --> 00:08:27,818 been in pretty much the last two weeks , 241 00:08:27,818 --> 00:08:29,985 almost daily conversations , not every 242 00:08:29,985 --> 00:08:32,151 day , but almost daily . Um , in those 243 00:08:32,151 --> 00:08:34,096 conversations , you know , without 244 00:08:34,096 --> 00:08:36,207 going into the details of what all of 245 00:08:36,207 --> 00:08:38,373 us shared , we do receive updates on , 246 00:08:38,373 --> 00:08:40,318 you know , some of their plans and 247 00:08:40,318 --> 00:08:42,780 operations . Um , you know , to your 248 00:08:42,789 --> 00:08:45,011 point , we were caught off guard by the 249 00:08:45,011 --> 00:08:47,178 strike on Nasrallah , but that doesn't 250 00:08:47,178 --> 00:08:49,289 mean that we are , you know , on , on 251 00:08:49,289 --> 00:08:51,630 other operations . Um They're going to 252 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,390 continue to con , you know , call and , 253 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,733 and speak to each other . Um , you know , 254 00:08:56,733 --> 00:08:58,956 we don't get a heads up on every single 255 00:08:58,956 --> 00:09:01,178 operation that they're conducting every 256 00:09:01,178 --> 00:09:03,511 single day . But there's certainly , um , 257 00:09:03,511 --> 00:09:05,678 you know , I think a good relationship 258 00:09:05,678 --> 00:09:07,844 with , between Minister Galant and the 259 00:09:07,844 --> 00:09:09,789 secretary and , um , they're gonna 260 00:09:09,789 --> 00:09:11,900 continue to engage with each other to 261 00:09:11,900 --> 00:09:13,956 get notified if they attack Iran . I 262 00:09:13,956 --> 00:09:13,760 think I can tell you that we are 263 00:09:13,770 --> 00:09:15,937 talking to them about their response . 264 00:09:15,937 --> 00:09:18,103 I think the president spoke to this as 265 00:09:18,103 --> 00:09:19,937 well . Um , you know , without , 266 00:09:19,937 --> 00:09:22,159 without characterizing his words . Um , 267 00:09:22,159 --> 00:09:24,326 but , you know , I , I certainly think 268 00:09:24,326 --> 00:09:26,437 that um , any response from Israel to 269 00:09:26,437 --> 00:09:29,289 Iran , um , you know , we will be part 270 00:09:29,299 --> 00:09:32,890 of those discussions . Thanks um on 271 00:09:32,900 --> 00:09:36,650 the Israeli invasion in Lebanon after , 272 00:09:36,659 --> 00:09:38,840 for about eight or nine months of the 273 00:09:38,849 --> 00:09:41,071 department saying they were against any 274 00:09:41,071 --> 00:09:42,849 type of uh ground operations or 275 00:09:42,849 --> 00:09:45,869 invasions . Um Over the weekend that 276 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:49,530 stance changed . Um Now the department 277 00:09:49,539 --> 00:09:51,909 is saying that they support limited 278 00:09:52,159 --> 00:09:54,215 operations from what they understand 279 00:09:54,215 --> 00:09:56,450 the Israelis are doing . What is , I 280 00:09:56,460 --> 00:09:58,571 mean , we've seen this before in , in 281 00:09:58,571 --> 00:10:00,710 Gaza , what is it that's limited for 282 00:10:00,719 --> 00:10:04,200 you guys ? Um At what point do you push 283 00:10:04,210 --> 00:10:06,488 back and say this is no longer limited , 284 00:10:06,488 --> 00:10:08,654 this might be against us interests and 285 00:10:08,654 --> 00:10:10,488 potentially Israeli interest for 286 00:10:10,488 --> 00:10:12,432 whatever they're trying to do . Um 287 00:10:12,432 --> 00:10:14,488 Because we've also had , we reported 288 00:10:14,488 --> 00:10:16,543 that us officials are saying that it 289 00:10:16,543 --> 00:10:18,766 needs to remain limited or else they'll 290 00:10:18,766 --> 00:10:22,349 lose uh they could lose us support . So 291 00:10:22,359 --> 00:10:25,619 I , you know , um to characterize what 292 00:10:25,630 --> 00:10:27,519 they're doing along that northern 293 00:10:27,519 --> 00:10:30,619 border is what , what we see is and how 294 00:10:30,630 --> 00:10:32,797 we assess is it's limited in the scope 295 00:10:32,797 --> 00:10:34,852 is in the scope and scale . And what 296 00:10:34,852 --> 00:10:36,797 they've said to us is that they're 297 00:10:36,797 --> 00:10:38,797 going after um you know , Hezbollah 298 00:10:38,797 --> 00:10:40,686 infrastructure that is along that 299 00:10:40,686 --> 00:10:42,463 border where , you know Israeli 300 00:10:42,463 --> 00:10:45,140 communities are . Um And you know , we 301 00:10:45,150 --> 00:10:47,700 understand that um the strategic 302 00:10:47,710 --> 00:10:49,766 purpose of this is so that Hezbollah 303 00:10:49,766 --> 00:10:52,500 cannot maintain the capacity to attack 304 00:10:52,510 --> 00:10:54,732 Israeli communities right there at that 305 00:10:54,732 --> 00:10:57,549 border in that short range . Um Look , 306 00:10:57,559 --> 00:10:59,170 we're still gonna have these 307 00:10:59,170 --> 00:11:01,170 conversations with them right now . 308 00:11:01,170 --> 00:11:03,337 What we are observing and assessing is 309 00:11:03,337 --> 00:11:05,559 that these are limited in time in terms 310 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:07,615 of the , the types of operations and 311 00:11:07,615 --> 00:11:09,781 how they're being conducted as well as 312 00:11:09,781 --> 00:11:11,670 the people , you know , different 313 00:11:11,670 --> 00:11:13,337 militaries conduct operations 314 00:11:13,337 --> 00:11:15,559 differently than the United States just 315 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:17,781 as we do , you know , separately from , 316 00:11:17,781 --> 00:11:17,429 from other militaries all around the 317 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,273 world . But our assessment still 318 00:11:19,273 --> 00:11:21,496 remains that these are limited in scope 319 00:11:21,496 --> 00:11:23,607 and scale right now and then just one 320 00:11:23,607 --> 00:11:25,440 more . Um Is it fair to say that 321 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:27,607 there's any type of disconnect between 322 00:11:27,607 --> 00:11:29,551 the secretary and the NSC or other 323 00:11:29,551 --> 00:11:31,780 agencies of the Biden administration in 324 00:11:31,789 --> 00:11:34,559 terms of uh how they , or , or what , 325 00:11:34,609 --> 00:11:36,900 what the secretary believes is the best 326 00:11:36,909 --> 00:11:38,979 way to go forward with whatever 327 00:11:38,989 --> 00:11:41,045 military operations they're carrying 328 00:11:41,045 --> 00:11:44,080 out . I'm not seeing any , um you know , 329 00:11:44,090 --> 00:11:47,250 uh differences between uh the White 330 00:11:47,260 --> 00:11:49,280 House or this building . Um The 331 00:11:49,289 --> 00:11:51,400 secretary is in regular communication 332 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:53,511 with the NSC and with the president , 333 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:55,696 um having spoken to him , you know , 334 00:11:55,696 --> 00:11:57,807 this week and weeks previously during 335 00:11:57,807 --> 00:12:00,140 this time , um I don't see any daylight 336 00:12:00,150 --> 00:12:02,440 between the Pentagon or the NSC . 337 00:12:03,299 --> 00:12:05,466 Thanks Sabrina . Uh two questions . Um 338 00:12:05,466 --> 00:12:07,410 This morning , President Biden was 339 00:12:07,410 --> 00:12:09,466 asked if he supports Israel striking 340 00:12:09,466 --> 00:12:11,410 Iranian oil facilities . He gave a 341 00:12:11,410 --> 00:12:13,577 little bit , it was no noisy . I think 342 00:12:13,577 --> 00:12:15,799 he gave a little bit of a mumbled , not 343 00:12:15,799 --> 00:12:17,688 very clear answer . He said we're 344 00:12:17,688 --> 00:12:19,780 discussing that to be clear is the 345 00:12:19,789 --> 00:12:22,700 Pentagon talking to the Israelis about 346 00:12:22,710 --> 00:12:25,380 striking Iranian oil facilities . Yes . 347 00:12:25,390 --> 00:12:27,612 So Tom , as you can appreciate it , I'm 348 00:12:27,612 --> 00:12:29,723 just , I'm not going to be able to go 349 00:12:29,723 --> 00:12:31,834 beyond what I've already said . Which 350 00:12:31,834 --> 00:12:31,710 is that we are discussing with them , 351 00:12:31,719 --> 00:12:34,359 what a response to Iran could look like 352 00:12:34,369 --> 00:12:37,780 but detailing out from here what 353 00:12:37,789 --> 00:12:39,900 potential targets might look like . I 354 00:12:39,900 --> 00:12:42,067 just don't think that serves a purpose 355 00:12:42,067 --> 00:12:44,122 or is really that helpful . Ok . And 356 00:12:44,122 --> 00:12:46,345 the second question , there's a growing 357 00:12:46,345 --> 00:12:48,400 sense of a double standard regarding 358 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:50,567 evacuations . Whereas the US rushed to 359 00:12:50,567 --> 00:12:52,400 evacuate Americans from Israel . 360 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:54,567 Americans in Lebanon have for the most 361 00:12:54,567 --> 00:12:56,622 part been told to find their own way 362 00:12:56,622 --> 00:12:58,678 out . I know it's a State Department 363 00:12:58,678 --> 00:13:00,567 decision . But could you reassure 364 00:13:00,567 --> 00:13:02,678 Americans in Lebanon that us military 365 00:13:02,678 --> 00:13:04,678 is on hand to help them evacuate if 366 00:13:04,678 --> 00:13:07,500 needed ? Well , Tom not to just , you 367 00:13:07,510 --> 00:13:09,843 know , push back a bit on that question . 368 00:13:09,843 --> 00:13:11,621 But one it is , it is the state 369 00:13:11,621 --> 00:13:13,621 department request to um you know , 370 00:13:13,621 --> 00:13:15,729 issue some type of military assisted 371 00:13:15,739 --> 00:13:19,659 departure or a type of neo . Um It also 372 00:13:19,669 --> 00:13:21,502 has to do with the demand and if 373 00:13:21,502 --> 00:13:23,669 there's a demand signal for that right 374 00:13:23,669 --> 00:13:25,780 now , the embassy in Beirut continues 375 00:13:25,780 --> 00:13:28,002 to operate on regular hours um is still 376 00:13:28,002 --> 00:13:30,604 open . Um There are still my 377 00:13:30,614 --> 00:13:32,725 understanding is that there are still 378 00:13:32,725 --> 00:13:34,503 commercial options available to 379 00:13:34,503 --> 00:13:36,974 American citizens to get out . Yeah . 380 00:13:36,984 --> 00:13:39,414 Well , I I believe today at my 381 00:13:39,424 --> 00:13:41,535 colleague at the State Department was 382 00:13:41,535 --> 00:13:43,591 just briefing that there are tickets 383 00:13:43,591 --> 00:13:45,702 available in the hundreds that um can 384 00:13:45,702 --> 00:13:47,591 be purchased or if someone cannot 385 00:13:47,591 --> 00:13:49,646 afford that ticket , there is a loan 386 00:13:49,646 --> 00:13:51,757 given to them that can be repaid over 387 00:13:51,757 --> 00:13:53,924 time . So I I mean , some of this is , 388 00:13:53,924 --> 00:13:56,091 you know , better directed towards the 389 00:13:56,091 --> 00:13:58,202 State Department . So , um , they can 390 00:13:58,202 --> 00:14:00,460 explain some of the , um , you know , 391 00:14:00,469 --> 00:14:02,691 policies and procedures that are put in 392 00:14:02,691 --> 00:14:04,802 place . I , I think what I would urge 393 00:14:04,802 --> 00:14:06,913 you to look at Tom though is from the 394 00:14:06,913 --> 00:14:09,080 very beginning or from very early on , 395 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:11,302 you know , we've , the State department 396 00:14:11,302 --> 00:14:13,247 has issued travel warnings against 397 00:14:13,247 --> 00:14:15,580 traveling to Lebanon , encouraging , um , 398 00:14:15,580 --> 00:14:17,802 American citizens in Lebanon to get out 399 00:14:17,802 --> 00:14:19,747 via commercial options . Um The US 400 00:14:19,747 --> 00:14:21,969 military is of course on , on the ready 401 00:14:21,969 --> 00:14:24,780 and has a whole wide range of plans . 402 00:14:24,919 --> 00:14:27,130 Um Should we need to evacuate American 403 00:14:27,140 --> 00:14:29,362 citizens out of Lebanon ? We absolutely 404 00:14:29,362 --> 00:14:32,369 can and they can be implemented . Um We 405 00:14:32,380 --> 00:14:34,609 haven't been called to do that . Uh So 406 00:14:34,619 --> 00:14:36,730 of course , we remain ready and we'll 407 00:14:36,730 --> 00:14:38,952 be in touch with our state colleagues , 408 00:14:38,952 --> 00:14:41,008 but that's not something that um you 409 00:14:41,008 --> 00:14:43,119 know , is being , is being considered 410 00:14:43,119 --> 00:14:45,286 right now . Yeah . Thank you Sabrina . 411 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:48,179 When you say uh you're talking to the 412 00:14:48,190 --> 00:14:51,900 Israelis about their response , does 413 00:14:51,909 --> 00:14:55,159 that mean that you are coordinating the 414 00:14:55,169 --> 00:14:58,039 details of the response , the scope ? 415 00:14:59,669 --> 00:15:01,400 Not necessarily . Um 416 00:15:03,510 --> 00:15:05,770 So I think without going into private 417 00:15:05,780 --> 00:15:07,891 conversations , what I can tell you , 418 00:15:07,891 --> 00:15:09,947 it's more about trying to understand 419 00:15:09,947 --> 00:15:12,058 what , what their response might be . 420 00:15:12,058 --> 00:15:14,224 Um I'm just not going to be able to go 421 00:15:14,224 --> 00:15:16,336 into further details than that . Ok , 422 00:15:16,336 --> 00:15:18,224 when you , when you are trying to 423 00:15:18,224 --> 00:15:20,336 understand what the response is going 424 00:15:20,336 --> 00:15:22,336 to be uh are you confident that the 425 00:15:22,336 --> 00:15:25,659 Israelis will , will , we'll give you a 426 00:15:25,669 --> 00:15:29,219 notice in advance uh when and 427 00:15:29,229 --> 00:15:32,080 where the response is going to take 428 00:15:32,090 --> 00:15:35,859 place . Yeah , so Joe in the 429 00:15:35,869 --> 00:15:37,869 dark , what I can tell ? Well , you 430 00:15:37,869 --> 00:15:39,980 know , great question , same question 431 00:15:39,980 --> 00:15:42,147 that Adris asked me . Uh my answer has 432 00:15:42,147 --> 00:15:44,202 not really changed . Well , let me , 433 00:15:44,202 --> 00:15:46,202 let me , let me then try and tackle 434 00:15:46,202 --> 00:15:48,147 this different question . Um So in 435 00:15:48,147 --> 00:15:52,099 terms of advanced notice , we 436 00:15:52,109 --> 00:15:54,640 are in , we are talking to them about 437 00:15:54,650 --> 00:15:56,817 their response . I'm just not going to 438 00:15:56,817 --> 00:15:58,872 be able to go into more details than 439 00:15:58,872 --> 00:16:01,369 that . Um In terms of the , you know , 440 00:16:01,380 --> 00:16:03,602 advanced notice . Again , we're , we're 441 00:16:03,602 --> 00:16:06,190 talking to them in terms of targets , 442 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,200 what they might , you know , what a 443 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,422 response might look like . Those aren't 444 00:16:10,422 --> 00:16:12,478 things that I'm just going to detail 445 00:16:12,478 --> 00:16:12,469 from the podium and frankly not going 446 00:16:12,479 --> 00:16:14,146 to go into additional private 447 00:16:14,146 --> 00:16:17,590 conversations . Last thing is just I'm 448 00:16:17,599 --> 00:16:19,432 trying to understand . So you're 449 00:16:19,432 --> 00:16:21,780 talking to the Israelis because you are 450 00:16:21,789 --> 00:16:25,190 concerned that their response could 451 00:16:25,369 --> 00:16:29,330 escalate the situation in the region or 452 00:16:29,340 --> 00:16:32,200 you're talking to them because you are , 453 00:16:32,210 --> 00:16:34,830 you have plans in advance to assist 454 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,840 them in their response . So I think 455 00:16:37,849 --> 00:16:40,159 what the president has said is that um 456 00:16:40,169 --> 00:16:42,002 you know , Israel has a right to 457 00:16:42,002 --> 00:16:44,710 respond . I I would remind you that on 458 00:16:44,729 --> 00:16:47,849 October 1st , we saw two nearly 200 459 00:16:47,859 --> 00:16:49,859 ballistic missiles launched towards 460 00:16:49,859 --> 00:16:52,799 Israeli territory with the intention 461 00:16:53,729 --> 00:16:57,349 to kill innocent civilians to do damage 462 00:16:57,359 --> 00:17:01,200 to infrastructure and um because of the 463 00:17:01,210 --> 00:17:03,940 incredible co ordination between the 464 00:17:03,950 --> 00:17:06,619 United States and the Israeli military , 465 00:17:06,630 --> 00:17:08,750 we were effective in , you know , 466 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:10,890 combating and , and , and mitigating 467 00:17:10,900 --> 00:17:14,729 damage and preventing , you know , um 468 00:17:14,790 --> 00:17:17,068 uh massive casualties from that attack . 469 00:17:17,140 --> 00:17:20,569 Um So Iran did fail in its attack 470 00:17:20,579 --> 00:17:23,199 against Israel . Um But I have to , you 471 00:17:23,209 --> 00:17:25,431 know , also remind you when it comes to 472 00:17:25,431 --> 00:17:27,487 how we're talking about , you know , 473 00:17:27,487 --> 00:17:29,542 how Israel might respond . These are 474 00:17:29,542 --> 00:17:31,098 conversations and these are 475 00:17:31,098 --> 00:17:33,320 conversations that don't just happen in 476 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:35,542 15 minutes , they happen over time . Um 477 00:17:35,542 --> 00:17:37,376 The secretary has been regularly 478 00:17:37,376 --> 00:17:39,487 engaging Minister Galant , you know , 479 00:17:39,487 --> 00:17:41,542 pretty much for the last two weeks , 480 00:17:41,542 --> 00:17:43,653 almost every day . Um I'm not gonna , 481 00:17:43,653 --> 00:17:45,598 well , I'm not gonna go into those 482 00:17:45,598 --> 00:17:47,653 detailed conversations . Um It's not 483 00:17:47,653 --> 00:17:47,349 something that just happens in a vacuum , 484 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:49,359 it happens over conversations , not 485 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:51,581 just here at this building , but across 486 00:17:51,581 --> 00:17:53,359 the inter agency and , and that 487 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:55,303 includes the White House as well . 488 00:17:55,303 --> 00:17:57,526 Thank you , Sabrina . If I may ask just 489 00:17:57,526 --> 00:17:59,415 three questions to relate and one 490 00:17:59,415 --> 00:18:01,637 separate on , on Iran as a spokesperson 491 00:18:01,637 --> 00:18:03,750 for the Pentagon , you can't tell the 492 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,540 American people whether the US will 493 00:18:06,550 --> 00:18:08,609 take or support offensive action 494 00:18:08,619 --> 00:18:10,760 against sovereign nation that did not 495 00:18:10,770 --> 00:18:14,489 attack U US forces or US 496 00:18:14,500 --> 00:18:16,833 interests in the region , which is Iran . 497 00:18:16,833 --> 00:18:18,889 Don't you need an authorization from 498 00:18:18,889 --> 00:18:21,111 Congress to be part of that ? So what I 499 00:18:21,111 --> 00:18:23,167 can tell you Fadi is what we've said 500 00:18:23,167 --> 00:18:25,111 from the very beginning is that we 501 00:18:25,111 --> 00:18:27,278 don't seek a wider regional war and we 502 00:18:27,278 --> 00:18:29,444 definitely don't see conflict with any 503 00:18:29,444 --> 00:18:31,556 country or group that includes Iran . 504 00:18:31,556 --> 00:18:33,722 When it comes to an Israeli response , 505 00:18:33,722 --> 00:18:35,611 we're talking to them about their 506 00:18:35,611 --> 00:18:37,833 response . Of course , as you know , we 507 00:18:37,833 --> 00:18:39,778 have us forces in the region . The 508 00:18:39,778 --> 00:18:41,833 secretary's priority uh from day one 509 00:18:41,833 --> 00:18:43,944 has always been to protect our people 510 00:18:43,944 --> 00:18:46,111 and taking care of our people . Um , a 511 00:18:46,111 --> 00:18:48,910 response or any type of , you know , 512 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,111 whether it's , whether it's trades on 513 00:18:51,111 --> 00:18:53,278 the border in the northern border , um 514 00:18:53,278 --> 00:18:55,389 you know , between Israel and Lebanon 515 00:18:55,389 --> 00:18:57,444 um or attacks on us forces from Iran 516 00:18:57,444 --> 00:18:59,556 backed militias that has consequences 517 00:18:59,556 --> 00:19:01,770 on us forces . And so when I tell you 518 00:19:01,780 --> 00:19:03,558 that we're in consultations and 519 00:19:03,558 --> 00:19:05,780 discussions with the Israelis on that , 520 00:19:05,780 --> 00:19:07,780 on our , on their response , that's 521 00:19:07,780 --> 00:19:09,613 what I mean . And then on the uh 522 00:19:10,550 --> 00:19:13,040 Iranian response to the assassination 523 00:19:13,050 --> 00:19:17,030 of Haniya in Tehran , which is shooting 524 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:20,030 200 missiles . According to Israeli 525 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:22,339 media , these missiles were targeting 526 00:19:22,349 --> 00:19:24,689 military infrastructure and they hit 527 00:19:24,699 --> 00:19:26,810 three air bases , not civilian 528 00:19:26,949 --> 00:19:30,359 infrastructure . So is your assessment 529 00:19:30,369 --> 00:19:32,480 that the Iranians were after civilian 530 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:34,480 infrastructure in Israel ? And what 531 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:36,369 precisely are you talking , which 532 00:19:36,369 --> 00:19:38,591 civilian infrastructure are you talking 533 00:19:38,591 --> 00:19:40,813 about ? I said , innocent civilians and 534 00:19:40,813 --> 00:19:42,869 I just said infrastructure , I'd say 535 00:19:42,869 --> 00:19:44,925 broadly speaking , our assessment is 536 00:19:44,925 --> 00:19:47,091 that um some of the ballistic missiles 537 00:19:47,091 --> 00:19:48,591 were targeting uh military 538 00:19:48,591 --> 00:19:50,702 infrastructure but , you know , for , 539 00:19:50,702 --> 00:19:53,180 for a greater assessment , um you know , 540 00:19:53,189 --> 00:19:55,356 I'd refer you to the Israelis to speak 541 00:19:55,356 --> 00:19:57,467 to that . Ultimately , the intent and 542 00:19:57,467 --> 00:19:59,650 target of that missile . Iran would 543 00:19:59,660 --> 00:20:01,716 have to speak to because they're the 544 00:20:01,716 --> 00:20:03,771 ones putting in the coordinates . We 545 00:20:03,771 --> 00:20:05,993 can only judge the trajectory and where 546 00:20:05,993 --> 00:20:08,216 they landed or where they were shot out 547 00:20:08,216 --> 00:20:09,993 of the sky . Thank you for your 548 00:20:09,993 --> 00:20:12,209 responses . You answered the question 549 00:20:12,219 --> 00:20:14,275 about your support for the so called 550 00:20:14,275 --> 00:20:16,630 limited operation and southern Lebanon , 551 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:19,160 which is to protect the Israeli , uh 552 00:20:19,170 --> 00:20:21,226 you know , uh civilians on , on that 553 00:20:21,226 --> 00:20:24,130 border . And well , we know Hezbollah 554 00:20:24,140 --> 00:20:27,000 in their arsenal have missiles that can 555 00:20:27,010 --> 00:20:29,560 be launched from tens of kilometers 556 00:20:29,569 --> 00:20:31,791 away from the border . So how does that 557 00:20:31,791 --> 00:20:34,849 operation make any sense if the uh 558 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:38,939 intended or uh effect 559 00:20:38,949 --> 00:20:41,780 or impact or goal is to prevent 560 00:20:41,849 --> 00:20:44,170 Hezbollah from launching those attacks 561 00:20:44,180 --> 00:20:46,236 along that border ? And some of that 562 00:20:46,236 --> 00:20:48,402 infrastructure are c two nodes and you 563 00:20:48,402 --> 00:20:50,347 know , storage facilities that the 564 00:20:50,347 --> 00:20:53,250 Israelis military , you know , and 565 00:20:53,260 --> 00:20:55,810 understandably feels the need to 566 00:20:55,819 --> 00:20:57,989 eliminate in order to get , you know , 567 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,969 their population back into the north . 568 00:21:00,979 --> 00:21:03,201 And this is not just for the protection 569 00:21:03,201 --> 00:21:05,368 of Israeli citizens . These are also , 570 00:21:05,368 --> 00:21:07,535 you know , Lebanese citizens that live 571 00:21:07,535 --> 00:21:09,479 on the other side of the border to 572 00:21:09,479 --> 00:21:11,646 allow for , you know , them to live in 573 00:21:11,646 --> 00:21:13,701 safety free from Hezbollah as well , 574 00:21:13,701 --> 00:21:15,868 trying to protect Lebanese civilians . 575 00:21:15,868 --> 00:21:18,090 I think they are certainly trying , I'm 576 00:21:18,090 --> 00:21:18,030 not going to characterize , you know , 577 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:20,319 uh all of their operations , but 578 00:21:20,329 --> 00:21:22,329 they've been pretty clear that they 579 00:21:22,329 --> 00:21:24,551 want to see their people move back into 580 00:21:24,551 --> 00:21:26,773 the , into the northern communities and 581 00:21:26,773 --> 00:21:28,940 they are conducting limited operations 582 00:21:28,940 --> 00:21:31,218 along that border line . Yes , Sabrina , 583 00:21:31,218 --> 00:21:33,440 we're all sort of referring to the same 584 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:33,380 thing and you had mentioned 585 00:21:33,390 --> 00:21:35,001 consequences . This is where 586 00:21:35,001 --> 00:21:38,099 conversations with Iran of what the 587 00:21:38,109 --> 00:21:40,276 Israelis may do with Iran is different 588 00:21:40,276 --> 00:21:42,709 than what they've done unannounced in 589 00:21:42,719 --> 00:21:45,270 places like Lebanon . Because just 590 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,224 looking at the geography , you got 591 00:21:47,224 --> 00:21:49,447 Israel , you've got Iran , you've got a 592 00:21:49,447 --> 00:21:51,613 US footprint kind of between them . It 593 00:21:51,619 --> 00:21:54,459 will have consequences for us forces . 594 00:21:54,469 --> 00:21:56,890 Has there been any change in terms of 595 00:21:56,900 --> 00:21:59,530 posture or readiness or alertness ? 596 00:21:59,540 --> 00:22:01,651 Have you seen any activity by Iranian 597 00:22:01,651 --> 00:22:03,849 backed militias ? Have you seen the 598 00:22:03,859 --> 00:22:07,339 Houthis activating in any way ? Um So 599 00:22:07,349 --> 00:22:10,150 no change to our posture of readiness . 600 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:12,819 Um You know , I'll remind you that , uh 601 00:22:12,829 --> 00:22:15,560 as you said , uh we have forces 602 00:22:15,569 --> 00:22:17,619 throughout the region , any type of 603 00:22:17,630 --> 00:22:21,369 action has uh potential impacts for our 604 00:22:21,380 --> 00:22:23,713 forces wherever they might be stationed . 605 00:22:23,713 --> 00:22:26,479 Um In terms of , you know , Houthis or 606 00:22:26,489 --> 00:22:28,680 IMG groups in , you know , Syria and 607 00:22:28,689 --> 00:22:31,719 Iraq . Um You know , I , I think as of 608 00:22:31,729 --> 00:22:33,896 most recently , you know , the Houthis 609 00:22:33,896 --> 00:22:35,896 have continued to target commercial 610 00:22:35,896 --> 00:22:38,719 ships in the Red Sea . Um You know , we 611 00:22:38,729 --> 00:22:41,420 have seen from the almost the beginning , 612 00:22:41,430 --> 00:22:43,652 I think since October 17th , you know , 613 00:22:43,652 --> 00:22:45,900 sustained periods of attacks on us 614 00:22:45,910 --> 00:22:48,300 forces from these groups in Iraq and 615 00:22:48,310 --> 00:22:50,199 Syria . But I don't have anything 616 00:22:50,199 --> 00:22:52,459 recent to point to you on if that's 617 00:22:52,469 --> 00:22:54,191 what the question was , but we 618 00:22:54,191 --> 00:22:55,969 certainly have continued to see 619 00:22:55,969 --> 00:22:58,680 activity um , and , you know , we 620 00:22:58,689 --> 00:23:00,633 always reserve the right to defend 621 00:23:00,633 --> 00:23:02,689 ourselves and , um , that's what our 622 00:23:02,689 --> 00:23:04,467 forces will do in the region if 623 00:23:04,467 --> 00:23:06,633 attacked . You haven't seen any uptick 624 00:23:06,633 --> 00:23:08,633 in that region . I mean , could you 625 00:23:08,633 --> 00:23:10,800 give me something specific that you're 626 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,022 referencing or is there like a specific 627 00:23:13,022 --> 00:23:14,911 date ? Because we saw a sustained 628 00:23:14,911 --> 00:23:17,078 period since October 17th , I launched 629 00:23:17,078 --> 00:23:19,133 the largest ballistic missile attack 630 00:23:19,133 --> 00:23:21,245 that Israel has ever seen . Um , it , 631 00:23:21,245 --> 00:23:23,356 it didn't activate any of its proxies 632 00:23:23,530 --> 00:23:26,760 to perhaps take a poke at us forces in 633 00:23:26,770 --> 00:23:29,520 the region at the same time . Yeah , I 634 00:23:30,180 --> 00:23:32,402 don't have anything for you on that . I 635 00:23:32,402 --> 00:23:34,347 mean , we , if , if our forces are 636 00:23:34,347 --> 00:23:36,402 attacked or if there is something in 637 00:23:36,402 --> 00:23:38,458 the vicinity that , you know , could 638 00:23:38,458 --> 00:23:38,300 land on the base , our forces have the 639 00:23:38,310 --> 00:23:40,520 author like the ability to shoot it 640 00:23:40,530 --> 00:23:42,750 down and they'll take the measures 641 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:44,816 needed to protect themselves . But I 642 00:23:44,816 --> 00:23:47,149 don't have any . I don't , there was no , 643 00:23:47,149 --> 00:23:49,260 as far as I'm aware , there was not a 644 00:23:49,260 --> 00:23:51,427 coordinate attack that I Iran launched 645 00:23:51,427 --> 00:23:53,538 its ballistic missile attack and then 646 00:23:53,538 --> 00:23:55,649 also coordinate with its proxy groups 647 00:23:55,649 --> 00:23:55,439 and not tracking that there was a 648 00:23:55,449 --> 00:23:57,780 coordinate there . Yeah . Thank you , 649 00:23:57,790 --> 00:24:00,079 Sabrina . Due to the increasing 650 00:24:00,089 --> 00:24:02,500 tensions in Lebanon , you deployed new 651 00:24:02,510 --> 00:24:05,199 reinforcements to the region mostly 652 00:24:05,209 --> 00:24:08,680 from the air force . Do you use the air 653 00:24:08,689 --> 00:24:11,849 bases in Cyprus for those ? And you 654 00:24:11,859 --> 00:24:14,439 were monitoring the latest attack of 655 00:24:14,449 --> 00:24:18,199 Iran on Israel and in 656 00:24:18,209 --> 00:24:21,439 your reconnaissance when you found out 657 00:24:21,449 --> 00:24:23,505 the attack is starting . Did you use 658 00:24:23,505 --> 00:24:26,689 the bases in uh Cyprus as well ? So I'm 659 00:24:26,699 --> 00:24:28,810 just not going to speak to our basing 660 00:24:28,810 --> 00:24:30,755 options and where our aircraft are 661 00:24:30,755 --> 00:24:33,032 located . Constantine , thanks Sabrina . 662 00:24:33,032 --> 00:24:35,199 I'm following up on sort of Jen's line 663 00:24:35,199 --> 00:24:37,469 of questioning from earlier . Um So the 664 00:24:37,479 --> 00:24:39,709 destroyers in helping to repel this 665 00:24:39,719 --> 00:24:41,660 attack fired off 12 interceptor 666 00:24:41,670 --> 00:24:44,170 missiles , you know , granted , I'm 667 00:24:44,180 --> 00:24:45,847 sure these destroyers can get 668 00:24:45,847 --> 00:24:48,359 resupplied . But uh um if this were a 669 00:24:48,369 --> 00:24:50,313 more prolonged conflict , does the 670 00:24:50,313 --> 00:24:52,579 Department of Defense feel confident in 671 00:24:52,589 --> 00:24:55,130 its supply chain to be able to provide , 672 00:24:55,430 --> 00:24:58,170 you know , more mi interceptor missiles 673 00:24:58,250 --> 00:25:00,280 in a longer term conflict ? I think 674 00:25:00,290 --> 00:25:02,401 you've seen the secretary uh made the 675 00:25:02,401 --> 00:25:04,623 com make the commitment to , you know , 676 00:25:04,623 --> 00:25:06,959 of course , always take into account us 677 00:25:06,969 --> 00:25:09,247 forces and the protection of us forces , 678 00:25:09,247 --> 00:25:11,959 but um also the commitment to defend 679 00:25:11,969 --> 00:25:14,760 Israel um when it comes to the supply 680 00:25:14,770 --> 00:25:16,548 chain . Um , you know , there's 681 00:25:16,548 --> 00:25:18,930 certainly , that is the defense 682 00:25:18,939 --> 00:25:20,883 industrial base is certainly being 683 00:25:20,883 --> 00:25:22,939 pressure tested and we saw that from 684 00:25:22,939 --> 00:25:24,883 Ukraine . Um So , you know , we're 685 00:25:24,883 --> 00:25:26,828 still confident in our abilities , 686 00:25:26,828 --> 00:25:26,599 we're still confident that we'll be 687 00:25:26,609 --> 00:25:30,099 able to , to resupply . Um But I will 688 00:25:30,109 --> 00:25:32,165 point you to the fact that we've had 689 00:25:32,165 --> 00:25:34,220 delays in funding from Congress that 690 00:25:34,220 --> 00:25:34,099 haven't allowed us to backfill our 691 00:25:34,109 --> 00:25:36,510 shelves , um which delay which , you 692 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:39,599 know , impact what can go out um into 693 00:25:39,609 --> 00:25:41,859 our different a ors . And , you know , 694 00:25:41,869 --> 00:25:44,089 of course , um that has an impact on 695 00:25:44,099 --> 00:25:47,050 the mission um , those are all things 696 00:25:47,060 --> 00:25:50,250 that the secretary thinks about when he 697 00:25:50,260 --> 00:25:52,510 makes these decisions and when , um , 698 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:54,800 carrier strike groups are moved , um , 699 00:25:55,150 --> 00:25:57,261 you know , different , uh , different 700 00:25:57,261 --> 00:25:59,372 squadrons are moved into the region . 701 00:25:59,372 --> 00:26:01,483 Um , so to answer your question , you 702 00:26:01,483 --> 00:26:03,594 know , we're going to do what we need 703 00:26:03,594 --> 00:26:05,706 to do and we believe that we have the 704 00:26:05,706 --> 00:26:07,928 capabilities that we need to defend our 705 00:26:07,928 --> 00:26:10,094 forces . Um , but when it comes to the 706 00:26:10,094 --> 00:26:09,910 defense industrial base , we've seen 707 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:12,699 that from Ukraine , especially um that 708 00:26:13,630 --> 00:26:15,908 the base is catching up and , you know , 709 00:26:15,908 --> 00:26:18,800 we still have AAA backlog and it 710 00:26:18,810 --> 00:26:20,532 doesn't help that also , we're 711 00:26:20,532 --> 00:26:22,920 operating under AC R . So just to sort 712 00:26:22,930 --> 00:26:25,097 of follow up on that . So is there any 713 00:26:25,097 --> 00:26:27,208 truth to sort of the , this criticism 714 00:26:27,208 --> 00:26:29,089 that any missile fired in the in 715 00:26:29,099 --> 00:26:31,155 defense of Israel or Central command 716 00:26:31,155 --> 00:26:33,449 takes away from Admiral PPAR and the , 717 00:26:33,459 --> 00:26:35,570 the notion of defending against China 718 00:26:35,570 --> 00:26:37,570 in the Indo Pacific . No , I mean , 719 00:26:37,570 --> 00:26:40,979 every co com um you know , there are 720 00:26:40,989 --> 00:26:42,933 different mission requirements . I 721 00:26:42,933 --> 00:26:46,010 think you have to also remember um as a 722 00:26:46,020 --> 00:26:48,180 planning organization uh while we 723 00:26:48,189 --> 00:26:50,078 didn't , you know , we didn't see 724 00:26:50,078 --> 00:26:52,133 October 7th and that , that attack , 725 00:26:52,133 --> 00:26:54,356 you know , like that , um What happened 726 00:26:54,356 --> 00:26:56,022 on October 7th was absolutely 727 00:26:56,022 --> 00:26:58,189 devastating and , you know , it wasn't 728 00:26:58,189 --> 00:27:00,078 something that was built into the 729 00:27:00,078 --> 00:27:02,189 department's plans . Uh We plan for a 730 00:27:02,189 --> 00:27:04,411 range of , you know , crises all around 731 00:27:04,411 --> 00:27:06,745 the world , um whether it be , you know , 732 00:27:06,745 --> 00:27:10,619 hurricane Helene um or uh , you know , 733 00:27:10,630 --> 00:27:12,852 it doesn't , I mean , events all around 734 00:27:12,852 --> 00:27:14,963 the world , the department is able to 735 00:27:14,963 --> 00:27:17,130 surge resources and move capability at 736 00:27:17,130 --> 00:27:19,297 a rapid pace , which I think is , um , 737 00:27:19,297 --> 00:27:21,352 shows the , you know , quite frankly 738 00:27:21,352 --> 00:27:23,686 the power of the United States military . 739 00:27:23,686 --> 00:27:25,908 Um , of course , that's going to impact 740 00:27:25,908 --> 00:27:27,963 us down the line , but we're able to 741 00:27:27,963 --> 00:27:27,410 make those adjustments . And that's 742 00:27:27,420 --> 00:27:29,489 something that , um , you know , the 743 00:27:29,500 --> 00:27:31,611 secretary considers in every decision 744 00:27:31,611 --> 00:27:33,667 that he makes . And of course , with 745 00:27:33,667 --> 00:27:35,722 the consultation of the chairman and 746 00:27:35,722 --> 00:27:37,778 other departments in this building , 747 00:27:37,778 --> 00:27:39,889 Noah , have the two remaining fighter 748 00:27:39,889 --> 00:27:42,229 squadrons arrived in Centcom yet . Are 749 00:27:42,239 --> 00:27:46,069 they still in transit ? Um I'm only 750 00:27:46,079 --> 00:27:48,469 tracking that uh only the squadron , 751 00:27:48,479 --> 00:27:50,646 only one squadron has arrived . So I'd 752 00:27:50,646 --> 00:27:52,757 refer you to Centcom for more on that 753 00:27:52,757 --> 00:27:54,590 secondarily . Do you have a more 754 00:27:54,590 --> 00:27:56,701 specific number of us forces that are 755 00:27:56,701 --> 00:27:58,923 in Centcom right now ? Other than a few 756 00:27:58,923 --> 00:28:01,257 1000 above 40,000 ? I don't , I'm sorry . 757 00:28:01,257 --> 00:28:03,423 No . Um I'm gonna go to the phones and 758 00:28:03,423 --> 00:28:05,479 I'll come back in the room here . Uh 759 00:28:05,479 --> 00:28:07,701 Jeff Schoville task and purpose . Thank 760 00:28:07,701 --> 00:28:09,757 you . When you say the US and Israel 761 00:28:09,757 --> 00:28:12,630 are consulting are both sides working 762 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:15,300 collaboratively to come up with a list 763 00:28:15,310 --> 00:28:17,540 of targets that Israel should strike . 764 00:28:17,959 --> 00:28:20,070 Yeah , thanks Jeff for the question . 765 00:28:20,070 --> 00:28:21,903 I'm just not going to be able to 766 00:28:21,903 --> 00:28:23,848 provide more details on what those 767 00:28:23,848 --> 00:28:26,070 conversations look like . Um Other than 768 00:28:26,070 --> 00:28:25,469 that , we are in close coordinations 769 00:28:25,479 --> 00:28:27,368 and consultation with our Israeli 770 00:28:27,368 --> 00:28:29,479 counterparts . Uh Laura Seligman Wall 771 00:28:29,479 --> 00:28:32,439 Street Journal . Hey , Sabrina , my 772 00:28:32,449 --> 00:28:34,949 question is , has , does Secretary 773 00:28:34,959 --> 00:28:37,150 Austin support an Israeli strike on 774 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:39,300 Iran's oil fields or its nuclear 775 00:28:39,310 --> 00:28:41,489 facilities ? Yeah , thanks Laura for 776 00:28:41,500 --> 00:28:43,979 the question . I'm just not going to 777 00:28:43,989 --> 00:28:46,770 get into hypotheticals or speculate on 778 00:28:46,780 --> 00:28:48,780 what an Israeli response could look 779 00:28:48,780 --> 00:28:51,002 like other than to say that we continue 780 00:28:51,002 --> 00:28:53,229 to talk with them about our potential 781 00:28:53,239 --> 00:28:55,949 response . Uh Last question on the 782 00:28:55,959 --> 00:28:58,070 phone , I believe it's Patrick Tucker 783 00:28:58,070 --> 00:29:00,939 defense one . Uh Thanks Sabrina II , I 784 00:29:00,949 --> 00:29:03,116 probably know the answer to this . But 785 00:29:03,116 --> 00:29:05,060 uh can you comment on reports that 786 00:29:05,060 --> 00:29:07,227 Israel has bombed a Russian airbase in 787 00:29:07,227 --> 00:29:09,282 Syria and following up on that , the 788 00:29:09,282 --> 00:29:11,449 defense department has shown that it's 789 00:29:11,449 --> 00:29:13,449 willing to take pre-emptive kinetic 790 00:29:13,449 --> 00:29:15,505 action against Houthi militants that 791 00:29:15,505 --> 00:29:17,671 are preparing to stage missile attacks 792 00:29:17,671 --> 00:29:19,782 against Israeli targets or targets in 793 00:29:19,782 --> 00:29:21,838 the Red Sea . Would that same policy 794 00:29:21,838 --> 00:29:23,979 apply to Russian forces that are 795 00:29:24,069 --> 00:29:26,920 clearly preparing to stage attacks 796 00:29:26,930 --> 00:29:29,097 against Israel or other targets in the 797 00:29:29,097 --> 00:29:31,097 region or would they get a slightly 798 00:29:31,097 --> 00:29:32,930 different policy even if they're 799 00:29:32,930 --> 00:29:35,152 engaging in the same preparatory strike 800 00:29:35,152 --> 00:29:37,430 action ? Uh Thanks Patrick for your 801 00:29:37,439 --> 00:29:39,550 question . So I'm not tracking uh the 802 00:29:39,550 --> 00:29:41,661 strike that you referenced in Syria . 803 00:29:41,661 --> 00:29:43,680 So , um you know , I , I just don't 804 00:29:43,689 --> 00:29:45,800 have anything to add on that . Um The 805 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:49,170 actions that we take uh in the Red Sea 806 00:29:49,180 --> 00:29:52,739 are defensive in nature . Um And when , 807 00:29:52,750 --> 00:29:55,319 you know , us forces are threatened or 808 00:29:55,439 --> 00:29:57,383 um there is a threat to commercial 809 00:29:57,383 --> 00:30:00,040 shipping . Um you know , that's why the 810 00:30:00,050 --> 00:30:01,772 secretary stood up . Operation 811 00:30:01,772 --> 00:30:03,772 Prosperity Guardian . Um , it is in 812 00:30:03,780 --> 00:30:06,540 self defense and it is a coalition that 813 00:30:06,550 --> 00:30:08,383 has come together of like minded 814 00:30:08,383 --> 00:30:11,099 nations um , to combat that houthi 815 00:30:11,170 --> 00:30:13,510 threat . Um I'm not going to speculate 816 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:15,687 on , you know , other threats down the 817 00:30:15,687 --> 00:30:18,000 line . Um , this department , as you 818 00:30:18,010 --> 00:30:20,232 have seen , can make adjustments at any 819 00:30:20,232 --> 00:30:22,454 time all over the world . Um , and I'll 820 00:30:22,454 --> 00:30:24,819 just leave it at that . Thank you . Uh 821 00:30:24,869 --> 00:30:27,000 So today , President Zelensky urged 822 00:30:27,010 --> 00:30:29,729 NATO allies to help intercept Iranian 823 00:30:29,739 --> 00:30:31,739 missiles and drones over Ukraine as 824 00:30:31,739 --> 00:30:34,390 they do with Israel . Can the United 825 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:36,400 States and allies help Ukraine with 826 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:38,400 that ? I mean , since it's possible 827 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:40,622 Israel , you know , deal with Ukraine . 828 00:30:40,622 --> 00:30:43,670 Um So , uh thank you for the question . 829 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:46,339 Uh You know , while I , while I 830 00:30:46,349 --> 00:30:48,182 appreciate the question , we are 831 00:30:48,182 --> 00:30:50,293 talking about two very different uh , 832 00:30:50,293 --> 00:30:52,729 landscapes and battlefields . Um The 833 00:30:52,739 --> 00:30:55,050 president at the very beginning of when 834 00:30:55,060 --> 00:30:57,170 Russia invaded Ukraine has directed 835 00:30:57,180 --> 00:30:59,402 this department to provide Ukraine what 836 00:30:59,402 --> 00:31:01,650 it needs on the battlefield . They have 837 00:31:01,660 --> 00:31:03,689 been very successful in employing 838 00:31:03,699 --> 00:31:05,699 whether it be air defenses or other 839 00:31:05,699 --> 00:31:07,810 capabilities to continue to take back 840 00:31:07,810 --> 00:31:10,032 their territory . Um The secretary just 841 00:31:10,032 --> 00:31:12,088 had a call with Mr Mero getting that 842 00:31:12,088 --> 00:31:14,255 battlefield update , getting to better 843 00:31:14,255 --> 00:31:16,477 understand what other capabilities they 844 00:31:16,477 --> 00:31:19,150 might need if any , um , the president 845 00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:21,382 has made a commitment that , you know , 846 00:31:21,382 --> 00:31:23,549 the United States is not putting boots 847 00:31:23,549 --> 00:31:25,604 on the ground in , into Ukraine . Um 848 00:31:25,604 --> 00:31:27,771 But we are supporting Ukraine in their 849 00:31:27,771 --> 00:31:29,827 efforts to take back their sovereign 850 00:31:29,827 --> 00:31:32,049 territory , shooting like those targets 851 00:31:32,049 --> 00:31:34,049 from Polish or Romanian territory . 852 00:31:34,049 --> 00:31:36,216 Would that be on the ground that would 853 00:31:36,216 --> 00:31:38,271 be in us in , in a war in the , in a 854 00:31:38,271 --> 00:31:40,493 different way ? And right now , we feel 855 00:31:40,493 --> 00:31:42,160 that Ukraine has been able to 856 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:45,469 successfully defend against , you know , 857 00:31:45,479 --> 00:31:48,459 Russian strikes to their , to their 858 00:31:48,469 --> 00:31:50,413 cities , to their populations , to 859 00:31:50,413 --> 00:31:52,580 their infrastructure . And we're going 860 00:31:52,580 --> 00:31:54,802 to continue to make sure that they have 861 00:31:54,802 --> 00:31:54,380 the support that they need to do that 862 00:31:55,640 --> 00:31:57,640 on the F-16 training for Ukraine of 863 00:31:57,640 --> 00:31:59,640 those 18 additional pilots . Do you 864 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:01,807 have any time frame for that ? Will it 865 00:32:01,807 --> 00:32:04,140 begin this year next year ? Any details ? 866 00:32:04,140 --> 00:32:06,196 I don't have any time time frame for 867 00:32:06,196 --> 00:32:08,307 you on that . Um As you know , one of 868 00:32:08,307 --> 00:32:10,473 the requirements for pilot training is 869 00:32:10,473 --> 00:32:12,473 um a , a proficiency in the English 870 00:32:12,473 --> 00:32:14,418 language . So , um you know , once 871 00:32:14,418 --> 00:32:16,362 those pilots are trained and , and 872 00:32:16,362 --> 00:32:18,362 ready , um you know , we will start 873 00:32:18,362 --> 00:32:18,255 working with them , but I just don't 874 00:32:18,265 --> 00:32:20,543 have a , an update or timeline for you . 875 00:32:20,543 --> 00:32:22,543 Yes , sir . Thank you , sir . We're 876 00:32:22,543 --> 00:32:24,959 gonna two questions first if Iran fell 877 00:32:24,969 --> 00:32:27,079 in it . Uh it is attack on Israel . 878 00:32:27,089 --> 00:32:30,040 What's the logic behind a response from 879 00:32:30,050 --> 00:32:33,619 Israel ? And do you believe that an 880 00:32:33,630 --> 00:32:35,686 Israeli attack on Iran is imminent ? 881 00:32:36,709 --> 00:32:39,170 Look , we're continuing to consult with 882 00:32:39,180 --> 00:32:41,124 them . So um in terms of something 883 00:32:41,124 --> 00:32:43,236 imminent uh that remains to be seen , 884 00:32:43,236 --> 00:32:46,829 um Iran did fail in its attack against 885 00:32:46,839 --> 00:32:48,895 Israel but I think it's important to 886 00:32:48,895 --> 00:32:51,380 put it into context that they launched 887 00:32:51,709 --> 00:32:54,000 nearly 200 ballistic missiles towards 888 00:32:54,010 --> 00:32:57,619 Israel . Um , you know , Israel has a 889 00:32:57,630 --> 00:33:00,719 right to respond to that . Um I'll 890 00:33:00,729 --> 00:33:03,280 leave it at that . Lastly , Iran used 891 00:33:03,290 --> 00:33:05,819 Iraqi airspace to launch its missile 892 00:33:05,829 --> 00:33:08,709 towards Israel to acknowledge any 893 00:33:09,180 --> 00:33:12,890 missiles intercepted in Iraq . And if I 894 00:33:12,900 --> 00:33:15,109 may add , you have enough enough air 895 00:33:15,119 --> 00:33:18,589 space , enough defense capabilities in 896 00:33:18,599 --> 00:33:21,010 Iraq , not just to defend your forces 897 00:33:21,020 --> 00:33:24,500 but to respond to Iranian missiles if 898 00:33:25,079 --> 00:33:27,930 launched on Israel , we have deep air 899 00:33:27,939 --> 00:33:30,280 defense capability in Iraq in terms of 900 00:33:30,290 --> 00:33:32,457 anything that was shot down over Iraqi 901 00:33:32,457 --> 00:33:36,189 airspace . The US engagement when it 902 00:33:36,199 --> 00:33:38,366 came to the attack on October 1st came 903 00:33:38,366 --> 00:33:40,532 from our two destroyers in the Eastern 904 00:33:40,532 --> 00:33:42,699 med . So anything shot down in the air 905 00:33:42,699 --> 00:33:44,866 or over Iraqi airspace , I'd refer you 906 00:33:44,866 --> 00:33:46,977 to the Israeli government to speak to 907 00:33:46,977 --> 00:33:48,977 that . Yes . In the back of Ukraine 908 00:33:48,977 --> 00:33:51,032 Zelensky said today that the West is 909 00:33:51,032 --> 00:33:52,810 dragging out long range missile 910 00:33:52,810 --> 00:33:54,755 supplies . Is us dragging out long 911 00:33:54,755 --> 00:33:56,810 range missile supplies ? No , what I 912 00:33:56,810 --> 00:33:58,921 would say is we have a limited supply 913 00:33:58,921 --> 00:34:01,199 of long range missiles and we can only 914 00:34:01,410 --> 00:34:04,880 few nations have that supply , whether 915 00:34:04,890 --> 00:34:08,850 it be attack storm shadows scalp , you 916 00:34:08,860 --> 00:34:11,129 know , you name it , they are limited 917 00:34:11,139 --> 00:34:13,840 in their supply . Um So , you know , 918 00:34:13,850 --> 00:34:16,017 we're not dragging it out . I think in 919 00:34:16,017 --> 00:34:18,294 fact , you've seen this administration , 920 00:34:18,294 --> 00:34:20,406 um this building be very committed to 921 00:34:20,406 --> 00:34:22,590 making sure Ukraine gets , get , gets 922 00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:24,860 what it needs to defend itself . Um But 923 00:34:24,870 --> 00:34:27,092 you are talking about interceptors that 924 00:34:27,092 --> 00:34:30,179 um you know , we have a limited amount 925 00:34:30,189 --> 00:34:33,189 on our shelves . And so um we also have 926 00:34:33,199 --> 00:34:35,179 to always assess our own readiness 927 00:34:35,189 --> 00:34:37,133 whenever we make decisions when it 928 00:34:37,133 --> 00:34:39,356 comes to presidential drawdown packages 929 00:34:39,356 --> 00:34:41,820 or USA is , which are long term . Um 930 00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:43,840 And that's what , you know , the se 931 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:46,173 that's the secretaries in , in his mind , 932 00:34:46,173 --> 00:34:48,396 he's always assessing our readiness and 933 00:34:48,396 --> 00:34:50,673 what us forces need . Thank your honor . 934 00:34:50,673 --> 00:34:53,270 Two questions , please . One India's 935 00:34:53,280 --> 00:34:55,447 Foreign Minister was here meeting with 936 00:34:55,447 --> 00:34:58,889 the Secretary of State during the time 937 00:34:58,899 --> 00:35:01,540 at the same time when Iranian missiles 938 00:35:01,550 --> 00:35:04,760 went on Israel or attacking Israel . So 939 00:35:04,770 --> 00:35:06,870 my question is here that India have 940 00:35:06,879 --> 00:35:08,935 also , of course good relations with 941 00:35:08,935 --> 00:35:11,060 Iran and as well as with the Middle 942 00:35:11,070 --> 00:35:13,939 East countries and all that , if sector 943 00:35:13,949 --> 00:35:16,239 defense or anybody from the department 944 00:35:16,250 --> 00:35:18,850 have spoken with him or met with him uh 945 00:35:18,860 --> 00:35:22,580 to bring some kind of peace or 946 00:35:22,590 --> 00:35:25,320 India can help in the Middle East or 947 00:35:25,389 --> 00:35:28,379 between Russia and Ukraine or now 948 00:35:28,389 --> 00:35:31,129 Iranian . I don't have any 949 00:35:31,139 --> 00:35:33,028 conversations to read out from um 950 00:35:33,028 --> 00:35:36,489 Secretary Austin . Um And uh you know , 951 00:35:36,500 --> 00:35:39,429 any country that wanted to , you know , 952 00:35:39,780 --> 00:35:42,439 work to de escalate tensions in the 953 00:35:42,449 --> 00:35:45,320 region . We certainly welcome that as 954 00:35:45,449 --> 00:35:47,449 far as Bangladesh is concerned , 955 00:35:47,830 --> 00:35:50,100 Bangladesh , uh uh intern Prime 956 00:35:50,110 --> 00:35:52,459 Minister Mr Yunus Mohammad wa also at 957 00:35:52,479 --> 00:35:54,535 the United Nations , of course , and 958 00:35:54,535 --> 00:35:58,100 also met President Biden uh any role 959 00:35:58,110 --> 00:36:00,469 the dod or the defense department 960 00:36:00,479 --> 00:36:02,646 playing as far as Bangladesh situation 961 00:36:02,646 --> 00:36:06,120 is concerned there or uh bring 962 00:36:06,610 --> 00:36:09,840 the new Prime Minister or elections and 963 00:36:09,850 --> 00:36:13,219 ongoing discussion as far as us and 964 00:36:13,229 --> 00:36:15,007 Bangladesh military to military 965 00:36:15,007 --> 00:36:17,007 relations . I'm not tracking any DD 966 00:36:17,007 --> 00:36:19,173 involvement . I would refer you to the 967 00:36:19,173 --> 00:36:21,173 State Department for more . I think 968 00:36:21,173 --> 00:36:20,989 that's happening more in the diplomatic 969 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:23,056 channels . I'll come back . I just , 970 00:36:23,056 --> 00:36:25,222 we'll keep going around and then happy 971 00:36:25,222 --> 00:36:27,790 to come back here . Yes . as you 972 00:36:27,840 --> 00:36:29,784 mentioned that you are engaging in 973 00:36:29,784 --> 00:36:32,007 discussions with the Israeli about what 974 00:36:32,007 --> 00:36:35,120 their response to Iran . Did you get 975 00:36:35,129 --> 00:36:37,760 any commitment from the Israeli that 976 00:36:37,770 --> 00:36:40,260 any actions that will take it against 977 00:36:40,270 --> 00:36:43,239 Iran will not lead to a wider world ? 978 00:36:43,250 --> 00:36:46,449 Which is your concerns . Of course . So 979 00:36:46,459 --> 00:36:49,070 um I'm not gonna go into more details 980 00:36:49,080 --> 00:36:51,689 on the conversations , but what I will 981 00:36:51,699 --> 00:36:54,129 tell you is what we stress publicly and 982 00:36:54,139 --> 00:36:56,306 privately is that we don't want to see 983 00:36:56,306 --> 00:36:58,472 a wider regional conflict . So you can 984 00:36:58,472 --> 00:37:00,195 absolutely assume that that is 985 00:37:00,195 --> 00:37:02,306 something that is brought up in every 986 00:37:02,306 --> 00:37:05,370 conversation um with Minister Gallant 987 00:37:05,379 --> 00:37:06,935 or , you know , across this 988 00:37:06,935 --> 00:37:09,239 administration . My next question um uh 989 00:37:09,250 --> 00:37:11,580 regarding what's going on now at the 990 00:37:11,590 --> 00:37:14,590 border of Lebanon . Um uh How long do 991 00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:16,560 you believe as the OD with their 992 00:37:16,570 --> 00:37:19,199 assessment , uh Israel need to achieve 993 00:37:19,209 --> 00:37:22,179 their goals . Is it like uh months or 994 00:37:22,189 --> 00:37:24,300 we can maybe see like what's happened 995 00:37:24,300 --> 00:37:28,084 is still like over almost a year and we 996 00:37:28,094 --> 00:37:30,094 see the war is still going on there 997 00:37:30,094 --> 00:37:32,344 that's up to Israel to define , to 998 00:37:32,354 --> 00:37:34,604 define what their strategic objectives 999 00:37:34,614 --> 00:37:36,764 and goals are . They've laid that out 1000 00:37:36,774 --> 00:37:39,824 in terms of they want to allow citizens 1001 00:37:39,834 --> 00:37:42,056 to return safely to their homes on that 1002 00:37:42,056 --> 00:37:45,120 northern border region . But how the 1003 00:37:45,129 --> 00:37:47,820 strategic objectives are met um from a 1004 00:37:47,830 --> 00:37:49,830 military means that's for them to 1005 00:37:49,840 --> 00:37:53,110 define just as we don't define success . 1006 00:37:53,120 --> 00:37:55,360 Um You know , for Ukraine either that 1007 00:37:55,370 --> 00:37:57,537 is for them to define for themselves . 1008 00:37:57,537 --> 00:37:59,939 So , um , in terms of strategic goals 1009 00:37:59,949 --> 00:38:02,116 being met , I'd refer you to Israel to 1010 00:38:02,116 --> 00:38:05,340 speak more to that lo a totally 1011 00:38:05,350 --> 00:38:08,360 different question . Ok , let me , I'm 1012 00:38:08,370 --> 00:38:10,314 gonna give you a break here . Um , 1013 00:38:10,314 --> 00:38:12,370 you're gonna have something that I'm 1014 00:38:12,370 --> 00:38:14,481 gonna have to take , aren't you ? I'm 1015 00:38:14,481 --> 00:38:14,270 hoping you can , hoping you can answer 1016 00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:17,189 this . Um , yesterday , there was an 1017 00:38:17,199 --> 00:38:19,366 announcement of the deployment of 1000 1018 00:38:19,366 --> 00:38:22,350 active duty forces for Hurricane Helene 1019 00:38:22,360 --> 00:38:24,638 relief which you noted in your top her . 1020 00:38:24,638 --> 00:38:26,804 Um , can you tell us what the progress 1021 00:38:26,804 --> 00:38:28,860 is ? And we know they're coming from 1022 00:38:28,860 --> 00:38:28,629 the 18th abor , we know they're coming 1023 00:38:28,639 --> 00:38:31,409 from 82nd . What exactly is their role ? 1024 00:38:31,419 --> 00:38:33,141 How will they work with ? Uh , 1025 00:38:33,141 --> 00:38:35,197 guardsmen ? Are they complimentary ? 1026 00:38:35,197 --> 00:38:37,419 Are they on their own ? And I know they 1027 00:38:37,419 --> 00:38:39,586 fall under the , the , the tag . But I 1028 00:38:39,586 --> 00:38:39,530 mean , can you just explain to us what 1029 00:38:39,540 --> 00:38:41,818 it is actually they're gonna do ? Sure . 1030 00:38:41,818 --> 00:38:43,762 So , um , the secretary authorized 1031 00:38:43,762 --> 00:38:46,310 their movement of nearly 1000 active 1032 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:49,370 duty soldiers . Their , their role is 1033 00:38:49,379 --> 00:38:51,323 that they're going to fit into the 1034 00:38:51,323 --> 00:38:53,490 larger apparatus which is being led by 1035 00:38:53,490 --> 00:38:55,768 F MA and the North Carolina government . 1036 00:38:55,768 --> 00:38:58,699 Um , so between I'm sorry , or NGN GB , 1037 00:38:58,709 --> 00:39:00,689 North Carolina National Guard . So 1038 00:39:00,699 --> 00:39:03,510 between those entities , you know , the , 1039 00:39:03,760 --> 00:39:06,350 they're gonna work with them to ensure 1040 00:39:06,399 --> 00:39:10,260 that , um , the , the North Carolina 1041 00:39:10,270 --> 00:39:12,381 communities , wherever these soldiers 1042 00:39:12,381 --> 00:39:14,437 go are supported and some of their , 1043 00:39:14,437 --> 00:39:16,381 you know , some of the things that 1044 00:39:16,381 --> 00:39:18,492 they're going to be doing is delivery 1045 00:39:18,492 --> 00:39:20,548 of food and water and other critical 1046 00:39:20,548 --> 00:39:22,603 aid . Um I believe this is something 1047 00:39:22,603 --> 00:39:24,770 that's still being , you know , worked 1048 00:39:24,770 --> 00:39:26,937 on exactly where they will be . But as 1049 00:39:26,937 --> 00:39:28,770 you know , they're in state , um 1050 00:39:28,770 --> 00:39:30,881 they're ready to go . Um , you know , 1051 00:39:30,881 --> 00:39:33,048 we , we're gonna continue to work with 1052 00:39:33,048 --> 00:39:35,048 the federal , local and state level 1053 00:39:35,048 --> 00:39:37,159 officials to ensure that , you know , 1054 00:39:37,159 --> 00:39:39,214 they're fitting in where the need is 1055 00:39:39,214 --> 00:39:41,326 the most critical . So , so the North 1056 00:39:41,326 --> 00:39:43,326 Carolina has already activated 1000 1057 00:39:43,326 --> 00:39:45,492 guardsmen to assist with this . It was 1058 00:39:45,492 --> 00:39:47,714 the thinking that these 1000 additional 1059 00:39:47,714 --> 00:39:49,714 1000 active duty personnel uh would 1060 00:39:49,714 --> 00:39:51,937 bring capabilities that they don't have 1061 00:39:51,937 --> 00:39:54,159 right now . Yes , and augment as well . 1062 00:39:54,159 --> 00:39:56,437 My understanding is that uh they bring , 1063 00:39:56,437 --> 00:39:58,603 they bring additional capabilities , I 1064 00:39:58,603 --> 00:40:00,603 think certainly , you know , uh the 1065 00:40:00,603 --> 00:40:02,937 National Guard has its own capabilities , 1066 00:40:02,937 --> 00:40:05,159 but these will Aug augment those . Um , 1067 00:40:05,159 --> 00:40:07,381 and I think as we're all seeing some of 1068 00:40:07,381 --> 00:40:09,603 the devastation , um you know , roads , 1069 00:40:09,603 --> 00:40:11,770 bridges , it's not easy to access . So 1070 00:40:11,770 --> 00:40:14,729 this is another , you know , uh group 1071 00:40:14,739 --> 00:40:16,979 of uh men and women that can go in with 1072 00:40:16,989 --> 00:40:19,211 an amazing capability that will augment 1073 00:40:19,211 --> 00:40:21,699 the National Guards and help get , um 1074 00:40:21,709 --> 00:40:24,949 you know , critical need in . Um and 1075 00:40:24,959 --> 00:40:27,270 also support , you know , uh getting 1076 00:40:27,280 --> 00:40:29,336 into isolated communities where it's 1077 00:40:29,336 --> 00:40:32,639 even harder . So Jen , follow up on 1078 00:40:32,649 --> 00:40:35,879 what asked have those 1000 active duty 1079 00:40:35,889 --> 00:40:38,111 troops from Fort Liberty arrived on the 1080 00:40:38,111 --> 00:40:40,056 scene in North Carolina . Are they 1081 00:40:40,056 --> 00:40:42,222 working yet ? Um Not to my knowledge . 1082 00:40:42,222 --> 00:40:44,333 Um I believe that that is still being 1083 00:40:44,333 --> 00:40:46,445 worked with , um , the state . So for 1084 00:40:46,445 --> 00:40:48,667 more on when they actually depart , you 1085 00:40:48,667 --> 00:40:50,833 know , I'd refer you to FEMA for , for 1086 00:40:50,833 --> 00:40:53,000 more on their efforts . What is taking 1087 00:40:53,000 --> 00:40:55,056 so long ? They are a couple of hours 1088 00:40:55,056 --> 00:40:54,929 away from Asheville where they don't 1089 00:40:54,939 --> 00:40:57,350 have helicopters to get in . It seems a 1090 00:40:57,360 --> 00:40:59,471 little strange that the 82nd airborne 1091 00:40:59,471 --> 00:41:01,638 can't deploy a little faster . I think 1092 00:41:01,638 --> 00:41:03,749 they're , they're , they're , they're 1093 00:41:03,749 --> 00:41:05,638 certainly ready to go . They're , 1094 00:41:05,638 --> 00:41:07,804 they've been authorized . Um It's more 1095 00:41:07,804 --> 00:41:09,971 a matter of making sure that the state 1096 00:41:09,971 --> 00:41:12,082 and F MA um , are ready to , uh , you 1097 00:41:12,082 --> 00:41:14,138 know , knit them in to the structure 1098 00:41:14,138 --> 00:41:16,360 that's in place . Um The last thing you 1099 00:41:16,360 --> 00:41:18,416 want to do is have a bunch of people 1100 00:41:18,416 --> 00:41:20,416 show up and kind of , you know , uh 1101 00:41:20,416 --> 00:41:22,527 exacerbate the system any even more . 1102 00:41:22,527 --> 00:41:24,693 Um , they're authorized , uh , they're 1103 00:41:24,693 --> 00:41:26,916 ready to go , but it , it is ultimately 1104 00:41:26,916 --> 00:41:29,082 the state's call on , on , on when and 1105 00:41:29,082 --> 00:41:31,138 how they , they are , they are moved 1106 00:41:31,138 --> 00:41:33,360 into the state . I'm going to come back 1107 00:41:33,360 --> 00:41:35,471 and then . Yes . Go ahead . Hi . Hi , 1108 00:41:35,471 --> 00:41:37,693 Jessica . With News Station . Hi . Hi . 1109 00:41:37,693 --> 00:41:39,860 Um , some military bases were impacted 1110 00:41:39,870 --> 00:41:42,530 due to the hurricane . I was just 1111 00:41:42,540 --> 00:41:44,719 wondering if you have a timeline as to 1112 00:41:45,179 --> 00:41:47,123 how soon they might be back up and 1113 00:41:47,123 --> 00:41:50,419 running . Um , some military bases , 1114 00:41:50,429 --> 00:41:52,699 you mean , in terms of evacuation , 1115 00:41:52,969 --> 00:41:56,649 some of the troops were so there 1116 00:41:56,659 --> 00:41:58,603 were , uh , precautionary measures 1117 00:41:58,603 --> 00:42:00,603 taken to evacuate some of our , our 1118 00:42:00,603 --> 00:42:03,070 bases and um and move our people out 1119 00:42:03,080 --> 00:42:05,659 due to the storm . Um I don't have a 1120 00:42:05,669 --> 00:42:07,836 timeline on when folks will be able to 1121 00:42:07,836 --> 00:42:09,613 go back to those bases . That's 1122 00:42:09,613 --> 00:42:11,447 obviously an assessment that the 1123 00:42:11,447 --> 00:42:13,725 commander would . Um So for , you know , 1124 00:42:13,725 --> 00:42:15,947 each , each base that you're interested 1125 00:42:15,947 --> 00:42:15,735 in , I I'd probably reach out to the 1126 00:42:15,745 --> 00:42:17,856 base itself or north com , but I just 1127 00:42:17,856 --> 00:42:20,023 don't , I don't have those details and 1128 00:42:20,023 --> 00:42:21,967 timelines in front of me . Sorry , 1129 00:42:22,514 --> 00:42:25,014 updates on the Truman . Um where it's 1130 00:42:25,024 --> 00:42:27,024 gonna deploy and does the secretary 1131 00:42:27,024 --> 00:42:30,060 have any plans to call for another two 1132 00:42:30,070 --> 00:42:32,292 aircraft carrier strike groups to be in 1133 00:42:32,292 --> 00:42:34,237 the Middle East ? So right now , I 1134 00:42:34,237 --> 00:42:36,459 don't have more than what six fleet had 1135 00:42:36,459 --> 00:42:38,514 announced and that um you know , the 1136 00:42:38,514 --> 00:42:40,848 Truman will be continuing into the UAOR , 1137 00:42:40,848 --> 00:42:43,070 I think uh probably participating in an 1138 00:42:43,070 --> 00:42:46,290 exercise um soon , um The secretary 1139 00:42:46,300 --> 00:42:48,860 always reserves the right to , to 1140 00:42:48,870 --> 00:42:51,092 change her orders , but right now she's 1141 00:42:51,092 --> 00:42:53,729 continuing as planned . Ok . One more . 1142 00:42:53,739 --> 00:42:56,270 Ok . Yes , this is kind of adding to 1143 00:42:56,280 --> 00:42:59,010 Luis's question . Um , how common is it 1144 00:42:59,020 --> 00:43:02,020 for active duty soldiers to participate 1145 00:43:02,030 --> 00:43:04,086 in disaster response ? Is this a , a 1146 00:43:04,086 --> 00:43:06,870 new thing or in disasters of past ? Has 1147 00:43:06,879 --> 00:43:09,459 that been pretty common ? No , you've 1148 00:43:09,469 --> 00:43:11,870 seen , um , participation of , of 1149 00:43:11,879 --> 00:43:14,101 active duty . I , I don't have , I will 1150 00:43:14,101 --> 00:43:16,435 be honest , I don't have a full rundown , 1151 00:43:16,435 --> 00:43:18,435 uh , of , for you here . Um , but I 1152 00:43:18,435 --> 00:43:21,114 think in 2018 was when maybe the 18th 1153 00:43:21,125 --> 00:43:24,044 was activated , um , for a response . 1154 00:43:24,054 --> 00:43:25,998 Um It's not uncommon , it's on the 1155 00:43:25,998 --> 00:43:28,254 needs on the state . Um And of course 1156 00:43:28,264 --> 00:43:30,375 what , you know , the local and state 1157 00:43:30,375 --> 00:43:32,431 leaders assess what they need and in 1158 00:43:32,431 --> 00:43:34,925 consultation with N GB . Um but it is 1159 00:43:34,935 --> 00:43:36,991 common , it's what , you know , they 1160 00:43:36,991 --> 00:43:39,399 can be used for a range of um you know , 1161 00:43:39,409 --> 00:43:41,520 whether it be a crisis in a different 1162 00:43:41,520 --> 00:43:43,298 part of the world or a national 1163 00:43:43,298 --> 00:43:45,242 disaster , um natural disaster , I 1164 00:43:45,242 --> 00:43:47,459 should say , um you know , they are 1165 00:43:47,469 --> 00:43:49,802 there to help support their communities . 1166 00:43:49,802 --> 00:43:52,025 And um so it's , it's not uncommon is , 1167 00:43:52,025 --> 00:43:54,247 is my bottom line is what I'm trying to 1168 00:43:54,247 --> 00:43:55,219 say . Ok , thanks everyone .