WEBVTT 00:04.329 --> 00:06.107 All right . Uh Good afternoon , 00:06.107 --> 00:08.619 everyone . Few things at the top and 00:08.630 --> 00:10.352 then I'd be happy to take your 00:10.352 --> 00:12.789 questions . Secretary Austin returns 00:12.800 --> 00:15.409 home today from his historic 13th trip 00:15.420 --> 00:17.549 to the Indo Pacific following the 00:17.559 --> 00:19.615 Reagan National Defense Forum . Last 00:19.615 --> 00:21.781 weekend , he traveled to Japan for his 00:21.781 --> 00:23.670 fourth official visit to build on 00:23.670 --> 00:25.503 historic progress made among our 00:25.503 --> 00:27.281 Japanese allies and US military 00:27.281 --> 00:29.799 stationed in Japan from meeting sailors 00:29.809 --> 00:31.950 aboard the US S George Washington to 00:31.959 --> 00:34.015 meeting with Prime Minister Ishiba . 00:34.049 --> 00:35.882 This final trip was an important 00:35.882 --> 00:38.105 opportunity for the secretary to engage 00:38.105 --> 00:40.216 on a wide range of defense activities 00:40.216 --> 00:42.382 across the alliance to include ongoing 00:42.382 --> 00:45.099 efforts to upgrade us forces Japan to a 00:45.110 --> 00:47.419 joint force headquarters , marking one 00:47.430 --> 00:49.486 of the strongest improvements in our 00:49.486 --> 00:51.652 military ties with Japan in 70 years . 00:51.869 --> 00:53.990 We have long said that the US Japan 00:54.000 --> 00:56.111 alliance is the cornerstone for peace 00:56.111 --> 00:58.444 and security in the in the Indo Pacific . 00:58.509 --> 01:00.620 And on his final trip to the region , 01:00.620 --> 01:02.842 Secretary Austin saw firsthand that the 01:02.842 --> 01:04.898 military alliance between the United 01:04.898 --> 01:07.065 States and Japan is stronger than ever 01:07.180 --> 01:09.069 shifting to the Middle East . The 01:09.069 --> 01:11.069 department continues to monitor the 01:11.069 --> 01:13.124 evolving situation in Syria and will 01:13.124 --> 01:15.347 work with our inter agency partners and 01:15.347 --> 01:17.402 with regional stakeholders including 01:17.402 --> 01:19.458 Jordan , Lebanon , Iraq , Turkey and 01:19.458 --> 01:21.624 Israel . It's in our national security 01:21.624 --> 01:23.736 interest that Syria emerges from this 01:23.736 --> 01:25.958 dynamic period as a stable , secure and 01:25.958 --> 01:27.958 sovereign state and that the Syrian 01:27.958 --> 01:30.069 people have a say in determining what 01:30.069 --> 01:32.209 their future looks like . And it is 01:32.220 --> 01:34.442 also in our national security interests 01:34.442 --> 01:36.442 that ISIS can't exploit the ongoing 01:36.442 --> 01:38.609 situation on the ground , which is why 01:38.609 --> 01:40.609 the department has no force posture 01:40.609 --> 01:42.720 changes to announce in the region and 01:42.720 --> 01:44.831 we maintain our current force posture 01:44.831 --> 01:47.053 presence in Syria to defeat and counter 01:47.053 --> 01:49.164 Isis militants and protect our forces 01:49.164 --> 01:51.276 against any threats . Earlier today , 01:51.276 --> 01:53.489 Secretary Austin spoke with Israeli 01:53.500 --> 01:55.470 Minister of Defense Cats . The 01:55.480 --> 01:57.536 secretary reiterated that the United 01:57.536 --> 01:59.591 States is is closely consulting with 01:59.591 --> 02:01.702 our international partners to support 02:01.702 --> 02:03.702 the implementation of the ceasefire 02:03.702 --> 02:05.758 with Lebanon . He also told Minister 02:05.758 --> 02:07.480 Katz that the United States is 02:07.480 --> 02:09.702 continuing to monitor events in Syria , 02:09.702 --> 02:11.591 supports a peaceful and inclusive 02:11.591 --> 02:13.758 political transition and will continue 02:13.758 --> 02:15.758 the mission to prevent ISIS from re 02:15.758 --> 02:17.758 establishing a safe haven on Syrian 02:17.758 --> 02:19.980 territory . Secretary Austin emphasized 02:19.980 --> 02:22.036 the importance of close consultation 02:22.036 --> 02:24.258 between the United States and Israel as 02:24.258 --> 02:26.258 events develop in , in Syria and we 02:26.258 --> 02:28.258 should have a readout coming soon . 02:28.258 --> 02:30.424 Lastly earlier this week , the missile 02:30.424 --> 02:32.424 defense agency in co-operation with 02:32.424 --> 02:34.369 Indo Paycom and other dod partners 02:34.369 --> 02:36.591 successfully conducted a live intercept 02:36.591 --> 02:38.924 of a ballistic ballistic missile target , 02:38.924 --> 02:40.924 marking the first ballistic missile 02:40.924 --> 02:43.880 defense test executed from Guam during 02:43.889 --> 02:45.789 the test . The AEGIS Guam system 02:45.800 --> 02:47.744 intercepted an air launched medium 02:47.744 --> 02:49.911 range ballistic missile target off the 02:49.911 --> 02:51.990 coast of Guam . The event marked a 02:52.000 --> 02:54.056 pivotal step taken in the defense of 02:54.056 --> 02:56.167 Guam and provides critical support to 02:56.167 --> 02:58.389 the overall concept for the future Guam 02:58.389 --> 03:00.330 defense system . A release with 03:00.339 --> 03:02.283 additional details on the event is 03:02.283 --> 03:04.506 available on the missile defense agency 03:04.506 --> 03:06.617 website . With that . I'd be happy to 03:06.617 --> 03:08.783 take your questions . All right . Hi , 03:08.783 --> 03:10.839 thanks Serena . Um I wanna ask first 03:10.839 --> 03:12.783 about Ukraine . Uh There were some 03:12.783 --> 03:14.895 senior us officials earlier today who 03:14.895 --> 03:17.006 warned that Russia is close to firing 03:17.006 --> 03:18.783 another ores intermediate range 03:18.783 --> 03:20.950 ballistic missile . Um Can you confirm 03:20.950 --> 03:23.210 this ? And also why do you think the US 03:23.220 --> 03:25.331 is kind of putting this out there now 03:25.331 --> 03:27.553 ahead of a potential launch ? Uh Well , 03:27.553 --> 03:29.720 so Putin has said publicly that Russia 03:29.720 --> 03:31.887 intends to launch another experimental 03:31.887 --> 03:33.942 Russian missile , as you mentioned , 03:33.942 --> 03:36.053 it's possible that Russia could do it 03:36.053 --> 03:38.276 in the coming days . Um I don't have an 03:38.276 --> 03:40.331 exact date for you . Um I think it's 03:40.331 --> 03:42.553 important to note that um should Russia 03:42.553 --> 03:44.776 choose to launch this type of missile ? 03:44.776 --> 03:46.942 It's not going to be a game changer on 03:46.942 --> 03:49.164 the battlefield . It's just yet another 03:49.164 --> 03:51.331 attempt to inflict harm and casualties 03:51.331 --> 03:53.630 in Ukraine . You know , we've seen this 03:53.639 --> 03:55.695 before , they're trying to use every 03:55.695 --> 03:57.861 weapon that they have in their arsenal 03:57.861 --> 04:00.083 to intimidate Ukraine . But of course , 04:00.083 --> 04:02.250 Ukraine with the United States , other 04:02.250 --> 04:04.417 partners around the world continues to 04:04.417 --> 04:06.417 have our support as they , um , you 04:06.417 --> 04:08.669 know , fight every single day on the 04:08.679 --> 04:10.901 battlefield . Has Ukraine asked for any 04:10.901 --> 04:13.449 additional defenses given Russia's 04:13.460 --> 04:15.627 stable rattling on this missile . Um , 04:15.627 --> 04:17.793 Ukraine's priority defenses remain one 04:17.793 --> 04:20.016 of them remains air defenses and that's 04:20.016 --> 04:22.127 something that we continue to flow to 04:22.127 --> 04:24.182 Ukraine . Um , whether it be through 04:24.182 --> 04:24.170 USA I packages . Like you saw the 04:24.179 --> 04:26.123 secretary announce that the Reagan 04:26.123 --> 04:28.123 defense Forum , um nearly a billion 04:28.123 --> 04:30.459 dollars in security assistance and then 04:30.470 --> 04:32.359 um of course through presidential 04:32.359 --> 04:34.470 drawdown packages . So air defense is 04:34.470 --> 04:37.309 one of those um priority request and 04:37.320 --> 04:39.431 we're continuing to honor that in our 04:39.431 --> 04:41.598 commitments . And then on Syria , just 04:41.598 --> 04:43.820 one quick one are us forces still doing 04:43.820 --> 04:46.600 partnered operations with SDF . And how 04:46.609 --> 04:49.679 has all of the different changing 04:49.690 --> 04:51.746 dynamics in the North affected those 04:51.746 --> 04:53.912 operations ? So there's been no change 04:53.912 --> 04:56.134 to our partnership with the SDF when it 04:56.134 --> 04:58.670 comes to ensuring the defeat of ISIS . 04:58.869 --> 05:00.790 I don't have , you know , recent 05:00.799 --> 05:02.910 partnered raids to speak to , but you 05:02.910 --> 05:05.230 did see over the weekend . Um Central 05:05.239 --> 05:08.690 Command take strikes against ISIS camps 05:08.700 --> 05:11.059 and leaders um in the Badia desert , 05:11.209 --> 05:13.376 but there's been no change to our work 05:13.376 --> 05:15.376 or partnership with SDF forces . We 05:15.376 --> 05:17.598 continue to work with them . Um General 05:17.598 --> 05:19.709 Corri , our central command commander 05:19.709 --> 05:21.709 was actually in the region engaging 05:21.709 --> 05:23.653 with his counterparts so that work 05:23.653 --> 05:26.940 remains ongoing . Jen . Um Sabrina , 05:26.950 --> 05:29.006 can you tell me what the Pentagon is 05:29.006 --> 05:31.061 doing to address this issue of drone 05:31.061 --> 05:33.172 sightings over New Jersey ? It's near 05:33.172 --> 05:35.839 sensitive um installations , the FBI is 05:35.850 --> 05:38.072 involved . What is the Pentagon doing ? 05:38.072 --> 05:40.294 Sure . Um So at this time , so aware of 05:40.294 --> 05:42.350 those drone sightings that have been 05:42.350 --> 05:44.294 reported at this time , we have no 05:44.294 --> 05:46.239 evidence that these activities are 05:46.239 --> 05:48.239 coming from a foreign entity or the 05:48.239 --> 05:50.350 work of an adversary . We're going to 05:50.350 --> 05:52.572 continue to monitor what is happening . 05:52.572 --> 05:54.739 But um you know , at no point were our 05:54.739 --> 05:56.683 installations threatened when this 05:56.683 --> 05:58.794 activity was occurring ? Can you rule 05:58.794 --> 06:01.100 out that these are American drones , us 06:01.109 --> 06:03.390 military drones , these are not us 06:03.399 --> 06:06.059 military drones . Um Again , this is 06:06.070 --> 06:08.014 being investigated by lo local law 06:08.014 --> 06:09.737 enforcement . What our initial 06:09.737 --> 06:12.750 assessment here is that these are not 06:12.950 --> 06:15.730 um drones or activities coming from a 06:15.739 --> 06:18.149 foreign entity or adversary . Um 06:18.170 --> 06:20.690 Representative Jeff Van Drew , um who 06:20.700 --> 06:22.700 is a Republican from New Jersey was 06:22.700 --> 06:24.533 just on the air saying that Iran 06:24.533 --> 06:26.756 launched a mother ship probably about a 06:26.756 --> 06:28.811 month ago that contains these drones 06:28.811 --> 06:30.867 and that , that mo mothership is off 06:30.867 --> 06:32.811 the coast of the east coast of the 06:32.811 --> 06:34.922 United States . Is there any truth to 06:34.922 --> 06:37.220 that ? There is not any truth to that . 06:37.230 --> 06:39.397 There is no Iranian ship off the coast 06:39.397 --> 06:41.609 of the United States and there's no so 06:41.619 --> 06:43.619 called mother ship launching drones 06:43.619 --> 06:46.440 towards the United States . Just a few 06:46.470 --> 06:49.049 questions really quick on Syria . Did 06:49.059 --> 06:51.470 General Corella speak to Secretary 06:51.480 --> 06:54.410 Austin before or after his trip to 06:54.420 --> 06:56.420 Syria ? Can you give us any details 06:56.420 --> 06:58.198 about what he accomplished ? If 06:58.198 --> 07:00.816 anything on that trip . And then also 07:00.825 --> 07:04.425 on Syria , we Reuters is reporting that 07:04.436 --> 07:06.506 the , that the Syrian rebel leader 07:06.515 --> 07:08.665 Abdulla has said he's going to work 07:08.675 --> 07:10.675 with international organizations to 07:10.835 --> 07:13.846 secure chemical weapon sites in Syria . 07:13.855 --> 07:16.145 I'm wondering whether the US has 07:16.156 --> 07:18.455 reached out to him and whether there's 07:18.466 --> 07:20.410 going to be any contribution of US 07:20.410 --> 07:22.522 intelligence to ensure that they have 07:22.522 --> 07:24.799 those sites secured , as you mentioned , 07:24.799 --> 07:26.966 um , General Kerala is in the region . 07:26.966 --> 07:29.188 I believe Central Command did put out a 07:29.188 --> 07:31.410 readout of , of what he's doing . He um 07:31.410 --> 07:33.633 was in Syria and Iraq and is continuing 07:33.633 --> 07:35.633 travel um throughout the region , I 07:35.633 --> 07:37.855 think through , through the week , um I 07:37.855 --> 07:39.855 will say that , you know , like any 07:39.855 --> 07:42.077 combatant commander , they're regularly 07:42.077 --> 07:44.299 in touch with the secretary and with um 07:44.299 --> 07:46.522 OS D . So we remain in close contact as 07:46.522 --> 07:48.799 he continues his travels in the region . 07:48.799 --> 07:51.470 Um in terms of um your question on 07:51.480 --> 07:53.790 chemical weapons . Um you know , it's 07:53.799 --> 07:56.329 something that we are certainly focused 07:56.339 --> 07:58.190 and concerned about . Um and the 07:58.200 --> 08:00.033 potential use of chemical agents 08:00.033 --> 08:02.256 falling into the wrong hands in Syria . 08:02.256 --> 08:04.144 Um That work is really being done 08:04.144 --> 08:06.489 through other partners . Um And you 08:06.500 --> 08:08.556 know , we here at the department are 08:08.556 --> 08:10.667 trying to make sure that those do not 08:10.667 --> 08:12.889 fall into the hands of bad actors , but 08:12.889 --> 08:14.944 the work on the ground is being done 08:14.944 --> 08:14.274 through other parts , not through the 08:14.285 --> 08:16.515 United States just then , you know , so 08:16.524 --> 08:18.635 has the secretary spoken with General 08:18.635 --> 08:20.524 Corella since , since the fall of 08:20.524 --> 08:23.165 Damascus and you know , does the , does 08:23.174 --> 08:25.007 this rebel leaders assurances on 08:25.007 --> 08:27.230 chemical weapons , give you any comfort 08:27.230 --> 08:29.454 or you or , or having a , you know , 08:29.565 --> 08:31.732 having this group say they're going to 08:31.732 --> 08:33.898 secure them , you know , not , is it , 08:33.898 --> 08:36.009 is it a problem for the United States 08:36.009 --> 08:38.343 given its position on this group ? Yeah , 08:38.343 --> 08:37.960 of course , the secretary has been in 08:37.969 --> 08:41.140 regular touch with General Ka um post 08:41.150 --> 08:43.739 fall of the Assad regime . Um in terms 08:43.750 --> 08:46.750 of what this leader is saying on the 08:46.760 --> 08:49.038 ground about chemical weapons , I mean , 08:49.038 --> 08:51.260 these are good things we want , we , we 08:51.260 --> 08:53.427 welcome this type of rhetoric , but we 08:53.427 --> 08:55.593 have , you know , actions have to meet 08:55.593 --> 08:55.200 words as well . So we're going to 08:55.210 --> 08:57.321 continue to work with the groups that 08:57.321 --> 08:59.377 we have relationships with . Again , 08:59.377 --> 09:01.210 our focus is that these chemical 09:01.210 --> 09:01.080 weapons do not fall into the wrong 09:01.090 --> 09:03.809 hands . Thank you very much Sabrina . 09:03.940 --> 09:06.109 Can you confirm that the SDF shot down 09:06.130 --> 09:09.969 A US MQ nine Reaper on Monday ? I do 09:09.979 --> 09:12.201 know that an MQ nine did go down in the 09:12.201 --> 09:13.979 region but I believe it's being 09:13.979 --> 09:16.090 investigated . So I can't confirm the 09:16.090 --> 09:19.530 cause of why it went down . Again . 09:19.539 --> 09:21.595 We're looking into that when we have 09:21.595 --> 09:23.595 more information , we'd be happy to 09:23.595 --> 09:25.817 provide that separately or more like on 09:25.817 --> 09:27.928 the same subject . But do you know to 09:27.928 --> 09:30.039 your knowledge that the United States 09:30.039 --> 09:32.320 provide SDF with anti aircraft 09:32.330 --> 09:35.030 capabilities ? Um I'm not going to 09:35.039 --> 09:36.706 speak specifically to all the 09:36.706 --> 09:38.872 capabilities that we provide the SDF . 09:38.872 --> 09:40.983 It's a , you know , we work with them 09:40.983 --> 09:42.817 when it comes to the defeat ISIS 09:42.817 --> 09:42.710 mission . That's something that's 09:42.719 --> 09:45.700 ongoing . And um as you know , I 09:45.710 --> 09:47.840 mentioned at Tara , it's , it's our 09:47.849 --> 09:49.905 mission of why we are in Syria , but 09:49.905 --> 09:51.793 I'm just not going to get no more 09:51.793 --> 09:53.682 specifics on that . Just one last 09:53.682 --> 09:55.905 question , if possible . So you've been 09:55.905 --> 09:58.016 through different channels , not just 09:58.016 --> 09:57.224 depending on bottles of different 09:57.234 --> 09:59.123 institutions , you've been asking 09:59.123 --> 10:02.544 Ankara to halt any new opening , any 10:02.554 --> 10:04.955 new fronts and halting any new 10:04.965 --> 10:08.030 offensive against the SDF . Do you feel 10:08.039 --> 10:10.260 that those calls have been successful 10:10.270 --> 10:12.440 so far ? And Secretary Lincoln is also 10:12.450 --> 10:14.506 headed to Ankara . I know that's not 10:14.506 --> 10:16.789 your institution . But um how hopeful 10:16.799 --> 10:19.919 are you that those talks are gonna be 10:19.929 --> 10:21.596 fruitful or let you know , be 10:21.596 --> 10:23.762 successful in stopping any kind of new 10:23.762 --> 10:25.873 offensives against ? Look , we have a 10:25.873 --> 10:27.873 great relationship with our Turkish 10:27.873 --> 10:29.818 counterpart um or counterparts , I 10:29.818 --> 10:31.985 should say throughout the age . Uh the 10:31.985 --> 10:34.151 administration , as you mentioned , we 10:34.151 --> 10:36.207 have the Secretary of State going to 10:36.207 --> 10:38.429 the region . Uh I think this week or if 10:38.429 --> 10:40.651 not today , um Secretary Austin engaged 10:40.651 --> 10:42.873 his Turkish counterpart um earlier this 10:42.873 --> 10:45.096 week . So the conversations are ongoing 10:45.096 --> 10:47.207 uh understanding that the dynamics on 10:47.207 --> 10:50.710 the ground in Syria are dynamic . Um 10:50.849 --> 10:54.020 And you know , Turkey certainly faces 10:54.419 --> 10:56.752 threats from within Syria and they have , 10:56.752 --> 10:58.752 they have the right to also protect 10:58.752 --> 11:00.641 themselves . But that's why we're 11:00.641 --> 11:02.919 continuing to have these conversations , 11:02.919 --> 11:02.539 not just with Turkey but with other 11:02.549 --> 11:04.493 stakeholders in the region when it 11:04.493 --> 11:06.440 comes to Syria , Natasha , thanks 11:06.469 --> 11:08.802 Sabrina . So going off of that , I mean , 11:08.802 --> 11:10.969 the fighting between the Kurds and the 11:10.969 --> 11:12.969 Turkish backed groups obviously has 11:12.969 --> 11:15.191 raised some concerns about the security 11:15.191 --> 11:17.302 of the ISIS um facilities and camps , 11:17.302 --> 11:19.525 the the facilities holding ISIS members 11:19.525 --> 11:21.858 and their families um in northern Syria . 11:21.858 --> 11:24.080 So how confident are you all that those 11:24.080 --> 11:26.080 facilities are secure ? Have any of 11:26.080 --> 11:28.358 them been overrun at this point ? Well , 11:28.358 --> 11:30.580 the facilities that you're referring to 11:30.580 --> 11:32.802 are , I mean , they're pretty far apart 11:32.802 --> 11:34.929 from where these rebel groups are 11:34.940 --> 11:36.718 asserting their power , like in 11:36.718 --> 11:39.380 Damascus and the , um , northwestern 11:39.390 --> 11:41.112 side , you know , we're in the 11:41.112 --> 11:43.279 northeastern part of Syria where those 11:43.279 --> 11:45.390 camps are . So th those , the prisons 11:45.390 --> 11:47.446 remain secure and under , you know , 11:47.446 --> 11:49.223 SDF control . I'm not , I'm not 11:49.223 --> 11:51.223 tracking any , uh , anything that's 11:51.223 --> 11:53.112 been overrun , all of the prisons 11:53.112 --> 11:55.279 remain under SDF control as far as I'm 11:55.279 --> 11:57.501 aware . Are you , are you about to tell 11:57.501 --> 12:00.219 me that I'm incorrect here ? No , I 12:00.229 --> 12:02.451 mean , the , the , when it comes to the 12:02.451 --> 12:05.919 defeat ISIS mission that is enduring , 12:05.929 --> 12:08.096 that's something that we're continuing 12:08.096 --> 12:10.318 to work with SDF , those prisons remain 12:10.318 --> 12:12.651 in , in control . Thanks , Sabrina . Um , 12:12.651 --> 12:14.929 so going back to the , the , the drone , 12:14.929 --> 12:17.099 um , that was shot down . Um , so on 12:17.109 --> 12:19.220 Monday , you know , you said that you 12:19.220 --> 12:20.998 guys aren't working on a formal 12:20.998 --> 12:23.469 deconfliction channel with , uh , HTS 12:23.479 --> 12:25.757 the folks running the show in Damascus . 12:26.229 --> 12:29.190 Um you know , does this incident put 12:29.200 --> 12:31.510 more urgency behind having some sort of 12:31.520 --> 12:33.719 formal communication channel ? Well , 12:33.729 --> 12:35.562 we're working through groups and 12:35.562 --> 12:37.562 partners that do have relationships 12:37.562 --> 12:39.396 with HTS . Um So we have ways of 12:39.396 --> 12:43.059 communicating messages . Um Again , of 12:43.070 --> 12:45.126 course , we want to work towards any 12:45.126 --> 12:47.237 deconfliction , especially our number 12:47.237 --> 12:48.959 one priority . And I think the 12:48.959 --> 12:51.237 secretary spoke to us earlier today is , 12:51.237 --> 12:53.403 is US forces in the region and then to 12:53.403 --> 12:56.429 ensure that in uh during defeat of ISIS , 12:56.640 --> 12:59.090 which is the mission set of why us 12:59.099 --> 13:01.299 forces are in Syria . But again , we 13:01.309 --> 13:03.309 have ways of communicating with HTS 13:03.309 --> 13:05.476 through different back channels , just 13:05.476 --> 13:07.849 not going to go beyond that pivoting 13:07.859 --> 13:10.026 slightly . Then , I mean , would it be 13:10.026 --> 13:11.748 fair to say that this incident 13:11.748 --> 13:13.989 underscores sort of the chaotic nature 13:14.000 --> 13:16.599 of the situation in Syria and that us 13:16.609 --> 13:19.419 assets and troops are in greater danger 13:19.429 --> 13:21.540 now than they were before the fall of 13:21.540 --> 13:24.080 Damascus . No , I wouldn't say that . I 13:24.090 --> 13:26.400 think there is , it's an ever changing 13:26.409 --> 13:28.242 ongoing dynamic situation that's 13:28.242 --> 13:30.409 happening in Syria . I mean , you just 13:30.409 --> 13:32.353 had a regime change and completely 13:32.353 --> 13:34.900 toppled . Um Of course , that presents , 13:35.359 --> 13:37.081 I mean , as we've said , great 13:37.081 --> 13:39.219 opportunity and also great risk . Um 13:39.229 --> 13:41.479 but when it comes to us force posture 13:41.489 --> 13:43.656 in the region , there's been no change 13:43.656 --> 13:45.878 to our force posture , our forces , you 13:45.878 --> 13:48.045 know , General Corella was just in the 13:48.045 --> 13:50.156 region . Um You know , we're going to 13:50.156 --> 13:52.100 do everything that we need to , to 13:52.100 --> 13:54.267 protect our forces there and to ensure 13:54.267 --> 13:56.100 that a terrorist group like ISIS 13:56.100 --> 13:58.211 doesn't take advantage of this moment 13:58.211 --> 14:00.378 and seek to move back into that . Um , 14:00.419 --> 14:02.419 you know , to the Damascus area and 14:02.419 --> 14:05.030 remain in a place where they are 14:05.039 --> 14:07.150 significantly degraded and diminished 14:07.150 --> 14:09.390 and that remains our focus . So just to 14:09.400 --> 14:11.456 be just to be clear , the downing of 14:11.456 --> 14:13.622 the drone is not an indication that us 14:13.622 --> 14:15.678 forces are under greater danger than 14:15.678 --> 14:17.733 they . I would not look into it like 14:17.733 --> 14:21.580 that . Janie , excuse me , a 14:21.590 --> 14:24.469 couple of occasions on South Korea 14:24.479 --> 14:27.739 United States and North Korea is the 14:27.750 --> 14:30.820 defense secretary , Austin canceling 14:30.830 --> 14:34.700 his visit to South Korea due to chaos 14:34.750 --> 14:38.179 of the Lake of a counterpart . 14:38.729 --> 14:40.951 I think we spoke to this Jamie . Um you 14:40.951 --> 14:43.570 know , the secretary did uh uh postpone 14:43.580 --> 14:46.140 his visit to um the Republic of Korea 14:46.150 --> 14:48.150 just given recent events again , he 14:48.150 --> 14:50.809 continued to the region . Um The rock 14:50.820 --> 14:53.500 remains a , you know , we have an 14:53.510 --> 14:55.343 incredible relationship with our 14:55.343 --> 14:57.909 counterparts um there and that's going 14:57.919 --> 15:01.679 to endure . Um But you know , right 15:01.690 --> 15:03.746 now the secretary is wrapping up his 15:03.746 --> 15:05.857 trip to Japan . He's coming back . It 15:05.857 --> 15:07.912 was his 13th visit to the region . I 15:07.912 --> 15:09.690 think you can see the amount of 15:09.690 --> 15:11.801 emphasis that this administration and 15:11.801 --> 15:13.801 this department has put on the Indo 15:13.801 --> 15:15.746 Pacific Cooper between South Korea 15:16.070 --> 15:19.460 United States currently working . Yeah , 15:19.469 --> 15:22.429 Cooper conversations continue on 15:23.140 --> 15:26.580 North Korea . There is possibility that 15:26.590 --> 15:29.369 North Korea may misjudge due to the 15:29.380 --> 15:32.299 current chaotic situation in South 15:32.309 --> 15:35.380 Korea . What kind of a proliferation 15:35.390 --> 15:39.190 does the United States ally have a 15:39.200 --> 15:43.020 force that eventually ? Well , I 15:43.030 --> 15:45.489 think , and , and you certainly seen , 15:45.539 --> 15:47.483 um , you know , there's an ongoing 15:47.483 --> 15:49.483 democratic political process that's 15:49.483 --> 15:51.650 playing out in the Republic of Korea . 15:51.710 --> 15:53.877 I certainly wouldn't want any actor to 15:53.877 --> 15:56.043 take advantage of that . Um We have to 15:56.043 --> 15:58.099 let that process play out what we're 15:58.099 --> 16:00.210 focused on and what the secretary has 16:00.210 --> 16:02.321 emphasized is the deepening of cooper 16:02.321 --> 16:04.432 operation between Japan , between the 16:04.432 --> 16:06.210 rock between other Indo Pacific 16:06.210 --> 16:08.210 partners , which is why you saw the 16:08.210 --> 16:10.266 secretary embark and return from his 16:10.266 --> 16:12.488 13th visit to the region . Yeah . Thank 16:12.488 --> 16:14.543 you , Sabrina . You always mentioned 16:14.543 --> 16:16.909 that you are supporting the SDF against 16:16.919 --> 16:20.179 any ISIS threat in the region . Now all 16:20.190 --> 16:22.134 the other parties , the opposition 16:22.134 --> 16:24.090 forces are against Daesh and they 16:24.289 --> 16:27.650 fought Daesh in the past years . Now 16:27.659 --> 16:30.229 there were some clashes in me and the 16:30.239 --> 16:32.330 SDF retreated from there saying that 16:32.340 --> 16:34.719 the US mediated for them . Who did you 16:34.729 --> 16:37.190 mediate with ? And what would you , 16:37.200 --> 16:39.144 what would be your position in the 16:39.144 --> 16:41.390 future in any other confrontation 16:41.400 --> 16:44.809 between any other group with the S ? 16:45.750 --> 16:48.109 So I'm sorry , what is the question 16:48.119 --> 16:50.175 about ISIS or is it about the Manbij 16:50.369 --> 16:54.140 region , the region since the S and 16:54.289 --> 16:57.159 the forces there were not fighting 16:57.169 --> 16:59.609 Daesh or Isis , they were fighting 16:59.619 --> 17:02.059 actually infighting between these two 17:02.070 --> 17:04.560 groups on mem . So they retreated with 17:04.569 --> 17:07.599 saying that the US mediated in their 17:07.609 --> 17:11.579 behalf . So what would be your position 17:11.589 --> 17:14.010 in the future in similar situations 17:14.020 --> 17:17.250 when comes in front some other Syrian 17:17.260 --> 17:20.780 groups , not ISIS . So , you know , 17:20.810 --> 17:23.032 there's a number of stakeholders in the 17:23.032 --> 17:25.143 region . We continue to work with our 17:25.143 --> 17:27.199 Turkish counterparts to , you know , 17:27.199 --> 17:29.250 urge for any de escalation or , or 17:29.260 --> 17:31.949 confrontation um in that region . Our 17:31.959 --> 17:34.181 assessment right now is that SDF is not 17:34.181 --> 17:37.020 operating in the Manbij area . Um We're 17:37.030 --> 17:40.859 focused on the mission which is why we 17:40.869 --> 17:43.140 are in Syria to continue that enduring 17:43.150 --> 17:45.372 defeat of ISIS . That's what we partner 17:45.372 --> 17:47.594 with SDF on . Appreciate the question , 17:47.594 --> 17:49.817 but I'm just not going to get into more 17:49.817 --> 17:52.039 details about that area . Another thing 17:52.039 --> 17:54.261 like in the same area that's controlled 17:54.261 --> 17:56.428 by the right now , there is a specific 17:56.428 --> 17:58.483 territory which is according to dual 17:58.483 --> 18:00.372 agreements between the Syrian and 18:00.372 --> 18:02.650 Turkish government is a Turkish ground . 18:02.650 --> 18:05.265 Actually , Suleiman in Karak Kozak area , 18:05.275 --> 18:07.805 the right eastern shore of the 18:07.814 --> 18:10.295 Euphrates . So , uh is there any uh 18:10.305 --> 18:13.694 talks about this because Turkey um uh 18:13.704 --> 18:16.415 like took the remains of the historic 18:16.425 --> 18:19.395 commander from this area due to ISIS 18:19.405 --> 18:23.234 threat to the uh historic side . So now , 18:23.244 --> 18:26.314 is there a way to go back to normal and 18:26.324 --> 18:28.555 do you follow anything about this 18:29.300 --> 18:31.356 trying to follow the , the thread of 18:31.356 --> 18:33.356 the question here ? Again , we're , 18:33.356 --> 18:35.356 we're gonna continue to engage with 18:35.356 --> 18:37.411 Turkey . Uh We have our Secretary of 18:37.411 --> 18:39.356 State traveling to the region . Um 18:39.356 --> 18:41.356 General Kerri is in the region . Um 18:41.356 --> 18:43.522 these are ongoing conversations and of 18:43.522 --> 18:45.633 course we understand the threats that 18:45.633 --> 18:45.459 turkey faces and you know , our 18:45.469 --> 18:47.839 partners in the region . Um I'm just 18:47.849 --> 18:49.849 not gonna shed more light than what 18:49.849 --> 18:53.530 I've said already . Tom . Hi , thanks 18:53.540 --> 18:56.619 Sabrina . The um the readout that you 18:56.630 --> 18:59.109 did at the top between Secretary Austin 18:59.150 --> 19:01.869 and Minister Katz . You talked about 19:01.880 --> 19:03.900 the ceasefire implementation with 19:03.910 --> 19:05.743 Lebanon . I don't think you said 19:05.743 --> 19:07.869 anything about the possibility of new 19:07.880 --> 19:09.991 ceasefire talks in Gaza . I'm sorry , 19:09.991 --> 19:12.270 new ceasefire talks with Gaza . I'm 19:12.280 --> 19:14.336 sorry , I was just giving a very top 19:14.336 --> 19:16.558 line summary . That's why I said a more 19:16.558 --> 19:18.780 fulsome readout readout is coming . Kat 19:18.780 --> 19:20.613 said that there's um there was a 19:20.613 --> 19:22.724 discussion of there's a chance at the 19:22.724 --> 19:24.780 moment for a new deal that hopefully 19:24.780 --> 19:26.891 leads to the release of hostages . So 19:26.959 --> 19:28.959 the Secretary and Minister Katz did 19:28.959 --> 19:31.400 discuss the ongoing situation in Gaza . 19:31.410 --> 19:33.632 I mean , the secretary always impresses 19:33.632 --> 19:35.799 upon his counterpart the need to for a 19:35.799 --> 19:37.743 ceasefire . Um I mean , one of the 19:37.743 --> 19:39.521 things that this administration 19:39.521 --> 19:41.743 continues to push for is the release of 19:41.743 --> 19:43.966 hostages . We still have Americans that 19:43.966 --> 19:46.188 are held hostage . Um Again , where you 19:46.188 --> 19:45.569 should have a more fulsome readout 19:45.579 --> 19:48.099 coming . Um But one of the other things 19:48.109 --> 19:50.220 that the secretary also emphasized is 19:50.220 --> 19:52.331 the need to get more humanitarian aid 19:52.331 --> 19:56.020 into Gaza . And then on the situation 19:56.030 --> 19:58.197 in Syria , are there any dod personnel 19:58.197 --> 20:00.359 in any capacity uh currently in 20:00.369 --> 20:03.069 Damascus or any other places where the 20:03.079 --> 20:05.190 uh prisons you know , involved in any 20:05.190 --> 20:07.079 sort of search for Austin tice or 20:07.079 --> 20:09.301 anyone else like that . So there are no 20:09.301 --> 20:13.189 dod personnel . Um There are 20:13.199 --> 20:15.143 only dod personnel in the , in the 20:15.143 --> 20:17.310 areas that we operate , which is , are 20:17.310 --> 20:19.477 part of the continued D ISIS mission . 20:19.477 --> 20:21.699 Um in , in terms of , you know , Austin 20:21.699 --> 20:24.750 ties , I don't have a us role or uh 20:24.760 --> 20:26.982 military assistance to speak to today . 20:27.020 --> 20:30.030 Of course , you know , the ongoing 20:30.040 --> 20:32.207 developments in Syria could present an 20:32.207 --> 20:33.929 opportunity for us to get more 20:33.929 --> 20:35.984 information , what we want to see as 20:35.984 --> 20:38.096 him returned home , reunited with his 20:38.096 --> 20:40.207 family . Um But I don't have anything 20:40.207 --> 20:42.318 to speak to in terms of a US military 20:42.318 --> 20:44.207 role when it comes to Austin tice 20:44.207 --> 20:46.429 situation involves and there could be a 20:46.429 --> 20:48.373 role for us or dod personnel to go 20:48.373 --> 20:50.429 ahead and assist with those . Yeah , 20:50.429 --> 20:52.429 today I just don't have any role to 20:52.429 --> 20:54.429 speak to though . Yes , thank you . 20:54.429 --> 20:57.550 Semi uh on recent secret trip to Japan . 20:57.560 --> 20:59.449 Could you please elaborate on the 20:59.449 --> 21:01.579 development related to discussions on 21:01.589 --> 21:03.739 upgrading the alliance command and 21:03.750 --> 21:05.979 control ? And also before the 21:05.989 --> 21:07.933 presidential transition , does the 21:07.933 --> 21:10.100 Pentagon plan to announce any specific 21:10.100 --> 21:12.579 direction or decisions on us ? Japan 21:12.589 --> 21:16.209 command and control issues ? Um I can't 21:16.219 --> 21:18.520 speak to future announcements . Um even 21:18.530 --> 21:21.579 though you know , the um you know , we 21:21.589 --> 21:24.130 still , we still have a few weeks to go 21:24.140 --> 21:26.140 before the the the transition takes 21:26.140 --> 21:28.550 place . Um I'm not aware of any more 21:28.560 --> 21:30.671 announcements coming but that I'm not 21:30.671 --> 21:32.782 going to rule it out either . Um , in 21:32.782 --> 21:34.949 terms of , you know , the relationship 21:34.949 --> 21:37.060 with Japan and the upgrading of those 21:37.060 --> 21:36.969 headquarters , I think you've heard us 21:36.979 --> 21:39.090 speak to that and what we're going to 21:39.090 --> 21:41.146 do , but that is a phased approach . 21:41.146 --> 21:43.201 It's , you know , it's going to take 21:43.201 --> 21:45.423 some time to continue to upgrade . Um , 21:45.423 --> 21:47.590 that joint force headquarters , Jeff , 21:47.590 --> 21:49.646 thanks very much two questions . One 21:49.646 --> 21:51.868 with the airstrikes that SAN com in the 21:51.868 --> 21:51.780 US carried out against Isis in central 21:51.790 --> 21:54.250 Syria on Sunday . Is there any updated 21:54.260 --> 21:56.359 assessment of who you hit ? What you 21:56.369 --> 21:58.719 hit , how badly damaged ISIS is as a 21:58.729 --> 22:01.170 result . And then some Syrian Kurdish 22:01.180 --> 22:04.619 officials have said that since Gula HTS 22:04.630 --> 22:06.463 and the other rebels began their 22:06.463 --> 22:08.408 campaign and ultimately ousted the 22:08.408 --> 22:10.408 Assad regime that they have seen an 22:10.408 --> 22:12.650 uptick in ISIS activity and in Isis 22:12.660 --> 22:14.604 attacks and plotting . What is the 22:14.609 --> 22:17.280 Pentagon seeing from Isis right now as 22:17.290 --> 22:19.179 you fear that it will try to take 22:19.179 --> 22:21.234 advantage of this situation ? Well , 22:21.234 --> 22:23.346 that , I mean that is what we've been 22:23.346 --> 22:25.401 saying is that we are concerned that 22:25.401 --> 22:27.401 ISIS would use the dynamics and the 22:27.401 --> 22:29.346 ongoing situation on the ground in 22:29.346 --> 22:31.679 Syria to try and take advantage of that , 22:31.679 --> 22:33.623 which is why we did what we did on 22:33.623 --> 22:35.346 Sunday . We , you know , we at 22:35.346 --> 22:37.457 approximately five locations , we had 22:37.457 --> 22:39.568 75 targets with a number of different 22:39.568 --> 22:41.568 airframes and platforms to take out 22:41.568 --> 22:43.734 capabilities that ISIS would use or we 22:43.734 --> 22:45.901 thought they could use to try and take 22:45.901 --> 22:45.880 advantage of the situation that's 22:45.890 --> 22:48.459 unfolding on the ground in terms of 22:48.469 --> 22:50.979 ISIS plots and planning . I mean , you 22:50.989 --> 22:53.156 know , ISIS still remains a threat . I 22:53.156 --> 22:55.100 don't have anything to speak to in 22:55.100 --> 22:57.400 terms of an uptick of attacks . But you 22:57.410 --> 22:59.979 saw us take pretty significant action 22:59.989 --> 23:02.100 over the weekend and we've been doing 23:02.100 --> 23:04.430 that , you know , pre the fall of the 23:04.439 --> 23:06.217 Assad regime and we're going to 23:06.217 --> 23:08.150 continue to do that as Syria goes 23:08.160 --> 23:10.049 through this transition political 23:10.049 --> 23:12.382 process then that those airstrikes have , 23:12.382 --> 23:14.438 in fact deterred ISIS at least since 23:14.438 --> 23:16.549 Sunday of carrying out more attacks . 23:16.939 --> 23:18.995 Well , that , I mean , again , we're 23:18.995 --> 23:21.272 taking capability off the map for them . 23:21.272 --> 23:23.439 So , you know what they choose to do , 23:23.439 --> 23:25.606 uh that's for them to speak to , I can 23:25.606 --> 23:25.599 only speak to what we did . And in 23:25.609 --> 23:27.665 terms of , I'm sorry , and you asked 23:27.665 --> 23:30.170 about um the , our ongoing assessment 23:30.180 --> 23:32.291 of how successful those strikes are . 23:32.291 --> 23:34.291 Our initial assessment is that they 23:34.291 --> 23:36.402 were successful and that , you know , 23:36.402 --> 23:38.458 we did kill a number of operatives , 23:38.458 --> 23:40.458 ISIS operatives in the desert , but 23:40.458 --> 23:42.624 it's going to take some time to get to 23:42.624 --> 23:44.513 get you more fidelity on , on the 23:44.513 --> 23:46.739 strikes . I'll go up on that . What is 23:46.750 --> 23:48.806 the US military doing to protect the 23:48.806 --> 23:51.709 SDF from Turkey and Turkish airstrikes ? 23:52.270 --> 23:54.689 So , continuing to have conversations 23:54.699 --> 23:56.921 with our counterparts . And uh , well , 23:56.921 --> 23:59.890 I won't speak to any hypotheticals . Um 24:00.630 --> 24:02.741 You know , we're going to continue to 24:02.741 --> 24:04.574 engage the SDF , we have ways to 24:04.574 --> 24:06.408 deconflict , of course . And the 24:06.408 --> 24:08.630 secretary spoke recently to his Turkish 24:08.630 --> 24:10.852 counterpart and I'm sure he'll continue 24:10.852 --> 24:10.109 to do so . One other thing on 24:10.130 --> 24:12.290 Congressman Jeff Van Drew , he says 24:12.300 --> 24:14.522 that the drones in New Jersey should be 24:14.522 --> 24:16.930 shot down . Is there any reason not to 24:16.939 --> 24:19.050 bring down these drones to figure out 24:19.050 --> 24:21.217 what they are ? Well , that's , that's 24:21.217 --> 24:23.439 a decision for local law enforcement if 24:23.439 --> 24:25.495 it's ever , if a drone or , um , you 24:25.495 --> 24:27.439 know , any activity is a threat to 24:27.439 --> 24:29.495 military installations , they always 24:29.495 --> 24:31.661 have the right uh for self defense and 24:31.661 --> 24:33.550 they can engage to respond to any 24:33.550 --> 24:35.775 potential risks . But , um , with some 24:35.785 --> 24:37.785 of the drone activity or activities 24:37.785 --> 24:39.841 that you're referring to , there was 24:39.841 --> 24:41.452 not a threat to any military 24:41.452 --> 24:41.425 installation , so they didn't feel the 24:41.435 --> 24:44.099 need to engage . Yes , at the back on 24:44.109 --> 24:46.053 the , on those airstrikes over the 24:46.053 --> 24:48.053 weekend categorically , then you're 24:48.053 --> 24:50.390 saying that the US only targeted ISIS 24:50.849 --> 24:52.905 military assets . You did not target 24:52.905 --> 24:55.160 any Syrian military assets . We target 24:55.170 --> 24:57.059 the strikes over the weekend that 24:57.059 --> 25:00.140 happened on December 8th , uh targeted 25:00.260 --> 25:02.920 an Isis Isis camps and leaders that 25:02.930 --> 25:06.060 were operating in the Bada desert . You , 25:06.189 --> 25:08.356 you're not targeting , I have no other 25:08.356 --> 25:10.380 strikes to speak to today giving to 25:10.390 --> 25:12.557 Israel . Is it targets Syrian military 25:12.557 --> 25:16.349 assets and invades Syria ? So , um , I 25:16.359 --> 25:18.449 would let Israel speak to its own 25:18.459 --> 25:20.292 operations . I think what you're 25:20.292 --> 25:22.292 referring to is the operations that 25:22.292 --> 25:25.380 they are conducting to what are threats 25:25.390 --> 25:27.859 to their security , which include , um , 25:28.430 --> 25:30.708 you know , chemical weapons , missiles , 25:30.708 --> 25:33.050 rockets that were , that the assad 25:33.060 --> 25:35.619 regime controlled , they have 25:35.630 --> 25:37.880 legitimate security concerns . They 25:37.890 --> 25:39.946 have a right to self defense . It is 25:39.946 --> 25:42.439 their own operations . We're not giving 25:42.449 --> 25:44.449 them any support . When it comes to 25:44.449 --> 25:46.782 those operations you keep talking about . 25:46.782 --> 25:48.699 There's no change in the US force 25:48.709 --> 25:51.130 posture in Syria . Under what legal 25:51.140 --> 25:53.140 authority , either international or 25:53.140 --> 25:55.029 national does the US have a force 25:55.029 --> 25:58.020 posture in Syria ? I'm sorry , what is 25:58.030 --> 26:00.141 the question ? What legal authority , 26:00.141 --> 26:02.439 either national or international ? Does 26:02.449 --> 26:04.616 the US have a troop presence , a force 26:04.616 --> 26:06.671 posture ? We've had a troop presence 26:06.671 --> 26:09.979 and , and um , I mean arrangement there 26:09.989 --> 26:12.290 for a number of years again . Uh , we 26:12.300 --> 26:16.099 continue to operate with the SDF to , 26:16.310 --> 26:18.640 to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS . 26:18.920 --> 26:21.329 Um , that has been our mission that has 26:21.339 --> 26:23.450 been our mission from , from the very 26:23.450 --> 26:26.079 beginning , Jared just again on the 26:26.089 --> 26:28.145 serious situation and there are some 26:28.145 --> 26:30.311 reports that Turkey backed rebels near 26:30.311 --> 26:32.200 Manbij and Kobani have been still 26:32.200 --> 26:34.311 launching artillery and drone attacks 26:34.311 --> 26:34.130 in the area . And I think , I think 26:34.140 --> 26:36.196 Raqqa today was hit with , uh , what 26:36.196 --> 26:38.418 the SDF said was a Turkish backed drone 26:38.418 --> 26:41.030 attack . Um This is after the US 26:41.040 --> 26:42.984 brokered the SDF withdraw , manage 26:42.984 --> 26:45.207 which the SDF is calling a cease fire . 26:45.329 --> 26:47.051 I mean , how can , how can the 26:47.051 --> 26:49.218 department ensure stability in Eastern 26:49.218 --> 26:51.385 Syria and you know , maintain security 26:51.385 --> 26:53.496 of the ISIS prisons if the department 26:53.496 --> 26:55.607 can't defend the SDF from SN a attack 26:55.607 --> 26:57.773 or , you know , or can they , I mean , 26:57.773 --> 26:59.996 is o I authorized to do that or is this 26:59.996 --> 27:02.051 left up to the state right now ? The 27:02.051 --> 27:04.051 mission and scope still remains the 27:04.051 --> 27:05.944 defeat ISIS mission that is in 27:05.954 --> 27:08.885 coronation and working with the SDF on 27:08.895 --> 27:10.951 the ground , whether it be partnered 27:10.951 --> 27:12.784 raids or , or , you know , other 27:13.074 --> 27:15.344 engagement activities . It is a 27:15.354 --> 27:17.521 partnership with the es to ensure that 27:17.521 --> 27:19.805 ISIS can no longer Resurge to the 27:19.814 --> 27:22.036 threat that they were many , many years 27:22.036 --> 27:24.500 ago . Um Again , and III I think I've 27:24.510 --> 27:26.566 answered this but , you know , we're 27:26.566 --> 27:28.621 going to continue to engage with our 27:28.621 --> 27:30.843 Turkish counterparts . Um We're gonna , 27:30.843 --> 27:32.843 you know , continue to work so that 27:32.843 --> 27:35.010 there is deconfliction . Um at the end 27:35.010 --> 27:37.343 of the day though the SDF is , you know , 27:37.343 --> 27:36.680 can speak to their own operations on 27:36.689 --> 27:38.800 where they're operating . We can only 27:38.800 --> 27:41.022 speak to our partnership with them when 27:41.022 --> 27:43.245 it comes to the DI I mission . And if I 27:43.245 --> 27:45.411 could just follow up , I wonder if you 27:45.411 --> 27:47.578 can something we reported earlier that 27:47.578 --> 27:49.578 a senior US official told the SDF , 27:49.578 --> 27:51.578 that the US military cannot protect 27:51.578 --> 27:51.094 them if they do not withdraw from 27:51.104 --> 27:52.882 Manbij and relocate east of the 27:52.882 --> 27:55.048 Euphrates , that the US cannot protect 27:55.048 --> 27:57.382 them in that area if they don't do that . 27:57.382 --> 27:56.964 Is that true ? Yeah , I can't confirm 27:56.974 --> 27:58.863 that I'm not going to speak to an 27:58.863 --> 28:00.918 anonymous officials , quote Tara and 28:00.918 --> 28:03.141 then I'll come . Thanks . I just wanted 28:03.141 --> 28:05.252 to circle back to the Russian missile 28:05.709 --> 28:08.010 when us officials discussed the 28:08.020 --> 28:10.131 potential launching earlier today and 28:10.131 --> 28:12.187 you just discussed at the pen at the 28:12.187 --> 28:13.964 podium . Um Is that based on an 28:13.964 --> 28:16.339 intelligence assessment or what what's 28:16.349 --> 28:18.516 prompting kind of this early warning ? 28:18.516 --> 28:20.071 Yeah , this was based on an 28:20.071 --> 28:21.960 intelligence assessment that it's 28:21.960 --> 28:23.960 possible that Russia could use this 28:23.960 --> 28:26.016 Russian missile in the coming days . 28:26.016 --> 28:28.071 And so , you know , they , they have 28:28.071 --> 28:30.182 used this type of capability before . 28:30.182 --> 28:32.182 Um I know you reported on it . Then 28:32.182 --> 28:34.479 again , I think that the point of us 28:34.489 --> 28:36.711 getting out this information is to also 28:36.711 --> 28:38.767 ensure that , you know , this is not 28:38.767 --> 28:40.878 going to be a silver bullet change to 28:40.878 --> 28:42.989 the battlefield . The war is going to 28:42.989 --> 28:45.211 continue and our support for Ukraine is 28:45.211 --> 28:46.878 going to continue . Does that 28:46.878 --> 28:49.045 intelligence include any assessment of 28:49.045 --> 28:51.211 where it might , what targets it might 28:51.211 --> 28:53.433 strike ? I'm not just not gonna be able 28:53.433 --> 28:53.310 to give you more details on that . Yes . 28:53.390 --> 28:55.709 So commercial satellite photos came out 28:55.719 --> 28:57.941 yesterday showing that the Russian Navy 28:57.941 --> 28:59.859 vacated their base in Tardis in 28:59.869 --> 29:02.091 addition to the uh their their military 29:02.091 --> 29:04.229 air base further south . Uh Is there 29:04.239 --> 29:06.350 any concern from the building or from 29:06.350 --> 29:09.339 y'all that ? Um the Russian Navy and 29:09.349 --> 29:11.349 the Russian military writ large are 29:11.349 --> 29:13.238 gonna develop some type of basing 29:13.238 --> 29:15.460 rights for those locations . Everything 29:15.460 --> 29:17.571 looked pretty intact when they left . 29:17.571 --> 29:19.516 Um Is there a concern that there's 29:19.516 --> 29:21.516 going to be a relationship with the 29:21.516 --> 29:23.738 Russian Ministry of Defense and the new 29:23.738 --> 29:25.905 regime in Syria going forward from the 29:25.905 --> 29:27.960 Pentagon . Well , we don't know what 29:27.960 --> 29:30.127 the new path forward in Syria in Syria 29:30.127 --> 29:32.127 looks like . Um , in terms of , you 29:32.127 --> 29:34.238 know , Russian assets , I mean , they 29:34.238 --> 29:36.238 just had one of their key political 29:36.238 --> 29:39.709 allies um ousted . Um , so their 29:39.719 --> 29:41.739 presence there , um , you know , 29:41.750 --> 29:44.239 political prowess within the Middle 29:44.250 --> 29:46.306 East region is significantly reduced 29:46.306 --> 29:48.194 now that Assad is gone . Um We're 29:48.194 --> 29:50.459 seeing Russia consolidate assets and to 29:50.469 --> 29:52.413 your point , you know , some naval 29:52.413 --> 29:54.800 vessels leaving that area . Um Again , 29:54.810 --> 29:57.032 it remains to be seen what the path for 29:57.032 --> 29:59.199 it is in Syria , you know , that is up 29:59.199 --> 30:01.421 for the Syrian people to decide . Um So 30:01.421 --> 30:03.088 I can't speak for what future 30:03.088 --> 30:05.199 relationships could look like only to 30:05.199 --> 30:08.160 say that , you know , with the , with 30:08.170 --> 30:11.369 the fall of Assad , um you know , and , 30:11.380 --> 30:13.959 and , and Russia being continued to be 30:13.969 --> 30:15.636 pulled into this , you know , 30:15.636 --> 30:18.209 continuing their fight uh in Ukraine , 30:18.219 --> 30:21.989 I mean , they are clearly um at a loss 30:22.000 --> 30:24.859 and they are clearly expending more 30:24.869 --> 30:26.758 material , more capability , more 30:26.758 --> 30:28.813 people on the battlefield and losing 30:28.813 --> 30:30.925 their , you know , stronghold , which 30:30.925 --> 30:32.980 you just saw happen with Assad , the 30:32.980 --> 30:35.510 Assad regime falling . I mean , but 30:35.520 --> 30:37.576 those facilities weren't sabotaged . 30:37.576 --> 30:39.920 Those airfields can be used , those 30:39.930 --> 30:42.489 ports can be used . Um I mean , if it 30:42.500 --> 30:45.310 was a full exit , you would expect that 30:45.319 --> 30:47.469 you'd want to deny , follow on forces 30:47.479 --> 30:49.535 to be able to use those . Well , you 30:49.535 --> 30:51.701 have to ask the Russians , why they're 30:51.701 --> 30:53.701 doing what they're doing ? I mean , 30:53.701 --> 30:55.923 what we're seeing is a consolidation of 30:55.923 --> 30:58.146 assets , including , um you know , some 30:58.146 --> 31:00.146 Russian forces leaving Syria , what 31:00.146 --> 31:02.368 they're doing with their facilities and 31:02.368 --> 31:02.030 bases . That's for them to speak to . 31:02.599 --> 31:04.932 Thank you , madam . Two quick questions . 31:04.932 --> 31:07.579 One , this is the Human Rights Week in 31:07.589 --> 31:09.780 Washington or around the globe . Uh 31:10.140 --> 31:11.862 When US military withdrew from 31:11.862 --> 31:14.329 Afghanistan , some agreements were made , 31:14.339 --> 31:16.395 promises were made by the Taliban to 31:16.395 --> 31:18.439 the US and to the US military , but 31:18.449 --> 31:21.040 they are not standing up because 31:21.050 --> 31:23.449 especially against women . What role do 31:23.459 --> 31:25.403 you think the US military is still 31:25.403 --> 31:27.626 playing there in Afghanistan to protect 31:27.626 --> 31:29.626 those behind , especially women ? I 31:29.626 --> 31:31.681 think , I think it's pretty clear we 31:31.681 --> 31:31.400 don't have a military role in 31:31.410 --> 31:34.099 Afghanistan anymore . And second , if 31:34.109 --> 31:36.331 there is any role , us military role in 31:36.390 --> 31:39.459 Bangladesh , I mean , other than , you 31:39.469 --> 31:43.449 know , basic mill 31:43.459 --> 31:45.292 to mill ties , I mean , is there 31:45.292 --> 31:47.292 something more specific that you're 31:47.292 --> 31:49.515 asking about because there are to going 31:49.515 --> 31:51.626 on against minorities in Bangladesh ? 31:51.626 --> 31:54.949 And uh uh it's , uh , situation is very 31:54.959 --> 31:57.015 bad over there right now this time . 31:57.030 --> 31:59.197 Yeah , that would be , I mean , that's 31:59.197 --> 32:01.252 more of diplomatic conversations and 32:01.252 --> 32:03.086 engagements than uh mill to mill 32:03.086 --> 32:05.308 channels . Um I do have one question on 32:05.308 --> 32:07.363 the phone and then I'm happy to come 32:07.363 --> 32:09.363 back in the room right here . Uh um 32:09.363 --> 32:12.150 Howard Allman War Zone . Thanks . 32:12.160 --> 32:14.327 Thanks , appreciate it . Um Just wanna 32:14.327 --> 32:16.493 go back to the , um , comments by , uh 32:16.493 --> 32:19.719 Congressman Van Dr , has the Pentagon 32:19.729 --> 32:21.959 spoken to him or has any plans to 32:21.969 --> 32:24.080 spoken to him , speak to him ? And is 32:24.080 --> 32:26.136 there any sense in the Pentagon that 32:26.136 --> 32:28.579 there's a , a frenzy hysteria here 32:28.589 --> 32:31.089 that's overblown in terms of some of 32:31.099 --> 32:33.210 these sightings ? And is the Pentagon 32:33.400 --> 32:35.660 assessed any of them to be , uh , 32:35.689 --> 32:39.229 confirmed to be drones as opposed to 32:39.739 --> 32:42.170 the aircraft or something else ? Thanks 32:42.180 --> 32:44.291 Howard for the question . Um I mean , 32:44.291 --> 32:47.060 local law enforcement FBI is , is 32:47.069 --> 32:49.291 conducting an investigation and looking 32:49.291 --> 32:51.569 into this , I mean , there , there's a , 32:51.569 --> 32:53.902 you know , initial assessments are , um , 32:53.902 --> 32:56.125 that these are drones and potentially , 32:56.125 --> 32:58.650 you know , could be , um , small 32:58.660 --> 33:00.604 airplanes . It could , it could be 33:00.604 --> 33:02.493 another of things that people are 33:02.493 --> 33:04.716 seeing and reporting . Um , but again , 33:04.716 --> 33:06.271 that's , you know , for the 33:06.271 --> 33:08.438 investigation to uncover and so I just 33:08.438 --> 33:10.630 can't speak to that more , um , in 33:10.640 --> 33:13.410 terms of , you know , uh , a frenzy , I 33:13.420 --> 33:16.520 think it's completely , uh , right , 33:16.530 --> 33:18.697 that people report these sightings and 33:18.697 --> 33:20.808 that there is an investigation into , 33:20.808 --> 33:23.030 you know , what they are seeing . But I 33:23.030 --> 33:25.252 think what's also important to remember 33:25.252 --> 33:27.308 is that at no time were our military 33:27.308 --> 33:29.900 installations or are people ever under 33:29.910 --> 33:31.869 any threat ? And if they were , of 33:31.880 --> 33:33.991 course , the base commanders have the 33:33.991 --> 33:36.102 ability to engage , um , these drones 33:36.102 --> 33:38.329 if they do pose a threat . Uh , can I 33:38.339 --> 33:41.810 just go one here and if you don't know 33:41.819 --> 33:44.041 what they are , how can you say they're 33:44.041 --> 33:46.041 not a foreign adversary our initial 33:46.041 --> 33:50.040 assessment is that this is not the work 33:50.050 --> 33:52.050 of a foreign adversary or a foreign 33:52.050 --> 33:54.383 entity . That is our initial assessment . 33:54.383 --> 33:56.494 Yes , one more . I want to ask on the 33:56.599 --> 33:59.979 Osprey which was reportedly grounded in 33:59.989 --> 34:02.579 the wake of a security concern . Could 34:02.589 --> 34:05.510 you share some latest development uh on 34:05.520 --> 34:07.719 the aircraft ? And I'm also wondering 34:07.729 --> 34:10.260 how you are communicating with allies 34:10.270 --> 34:13.979 such as Japan which has not resumed its 34:13.999 --> 34:16.166 operation . So I think you've seen , I 34:16.166 --> 34:19.989 mean , you each service makes their own 34:20.000 --> 34:21.889 decisions on when it comes to the 34:21.889 --> 34:23.833 Osprey . We remain as a department 34:23.833 --> 34:26.056 committed to ensuring the safety of our 34:26.056 --> 34:28.520 aircraft and our platforms . Um And we 34:28.530 --> 34:30.760 continue to underscore that value at 34:30.770 --> 34:33.540 every single level . Um You know , I 34:33.550 --> 34:36.120 think the Navy , the Air Force and 34:36.129 --> 34:37.907 Marine Corps all make different 34:37.907 --> 34:40.018 decisions about the Osprey and some , 34:40.018 --> 34:41.740 you know , have implemented an 34:41.740 --> 34:43.907 operational pause for more information 34:43.907 --> 34:46.240 on that . I'd refer you to each service . 34:46.240 --> 34:46.669 Ok . All right . Thanks , everyone .