Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Wednesday that the US would defend Israel if it faces attacks in response to its airstrike in Beirut that targeted a Hezbollah commander and the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas’s political bureau who was killed in Tehran.
Israel has not formally taken credit for killing Haniyeh, but Israeli intelligence has a long history of carrying out covert attacks inside Iran, including assassinations. Both Iran and Hamas have blamed Israel for the killing and are vowing revenge.
“Following this bitter, tragic event which has taken place within the borders of the Islamic Republic, it is our duty to take revenge,” Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote on X.
The New York Times later reported that Khamenei issued an order for Iran to strike Israel directly in retaliation for the killing of Haniyeh. The report, which cited three anonymous Iranian officials, said he gave the order at an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Wednesday morning.
Austin, who is visiting the Philippines, was asked what assistance the US would provide if a wider regional war broke out. “We certainly will help defend Israel. You saw us do that April. You can expect to see us do that again,” he said
Austin was referring to the US and some of its allies intercepting Iranian missiles and drones that were fired at Israel in response to the April 1 Israeli bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria. The consulate bombing, which killed a senior Iranian general, provoked the first-ever Iranian attack on Israeli territory.
US officials claim they’re working to ease tensions in the Middle East, but providing unconditional military aid to Israel and vowing to defend it from any consequences only emboldens the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which appears determined to get the US involved in a major war.
If Iran, Hezbollah, and other Shia allies in the region decide to coordinate a major attack, it could involve targeting US bases in Iraq and Syria, which are vulnerable to Iranian missiles. Rocket attacks on those bases restarted last week, and the US bombed the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces on Tuesday, only a few hours after Israel bombed Beirut.
The unnamed Iranian officials speaking to the Times said a coordinated strike with Iran’s allies was one option, although they didn’t mention the possibility of attacks on US bases. Another option would be an operation similar to what was launched in April, a combined missile and drone attack that would target military sites.
I was so excited when I first read this!…. Then I realized how mistaken I was….I thought it said defund. Oops!
Israel seems to be taking advantage of the obvious fact that we have no functioning President in the US. Joe Robinette Biden Jr. is simply a political stooge that they installed in the White House. There is no in command US President who can get on the line to Bibi Netanyahoo and tell him to cool it. And Bibi knows he has the US congress in his back pocket. So this is the result: Israel gone rogue. If they go down we all are going down with them.
We have no functioning government in DC.
Israel does not need any defense. It does all the attacking.
What Austin is promising is a blank check to attack without consequences.
The proper consequences would be assassination of many of the Israeli leaders, and there is nothing the US could do to protect them from that.
The clouds part and we see who really runs American foreign policy, and unelected Raytheon rep. Nothing from our President, Congress, or Secretary of State about this new alliance with Israel to protect it from retaliation for committing mass crimes against humanity.
"US officials claim they’re working to ease tensions in the Middle East.." All the U.S. is doing with their negotiations is providing feints for ongoing aggressions. With their unwaving support of Israel, the US is only stoking tensions for eventual war.
"the US bombed the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces on Tuesday, only a few hours after Israel bombed Beirut…"
More proof that US and Israeli actions are coordinated in order to bring about a wider war. Enough with this BULLSHIT about how the US is "avoiding a wider war" or "the US is pressuring Israel" not to do this or that.
Israel is the 51st state, thanks to the tremendous political and cultural power which they wield in the USA, despite their overall low numbers in the population.
Wrong. The U.S. is the first expansion state of the illegal state of Israel. AIPAC owns 99% of the representatives in both houses of congress.
I didn't know Austin was in the position to make such decisions.
Exactly what I was wondering….
Maybe the Raytheon board of directors gave him the authorization?
He’s not. When the cat (President) is away (demented), the rats will play.
Why don't they pick on someone their own size? E.g. touerkiey or $ audi?
Stupid people in high places are going to get us all killed. Austin, to me, qualifies as a stupid person.
Stupid and corrupt.
In our postmodern world I think 'corrupt' has been redefined as 'careerism.' Isn't that a generous way to put what the Congress was doing last week giving the Zionist Génocidaire 58 standing ovations. That's played well around the world.
Agree. What an absolutely idiotic policy. Guarantee ANYONE complete support regardless of what they do ? Who DOES that ?
The US treats Israel as its largest military base, insane as that is, so will defend it as it would defend any other one. My assumption is that the US pre-approves all Israeli attacks, just as it does Ukraine's. War IS the US government's foreign policy. It would like nothing better than a war in the Mideast. Especially now, heading towards the election, when some voters might think it's too risky to change parties during a major war.
Stupid pays …
Austin is the Donald Rumsfeld of the Biden Administration and the Democratic Party. He, Blinken, Harris and Biden are arming Israel and Ukraine to the teeth. Trump will do the same for Israel, he says he'll negotiate an end to the Ukraine War or will let Europe decide how to handle the war. He says he'll be tougher on Russia in his 2nd term and will invade Mexico,
When did that fat old New York real estate developer say the US would attack Mexico?
Almost every campaign rally?
It could be at every campaign rally. If he invaded Mexico, there would be no need for a wall, it would be a barrier to the invasion.
I think that's how they expect to get Mexico to pay for the wall, convince them to construct a new Maginot Line to keep the Pentagram out.
I don't know exactly when he said that. He said he would invade Mexico if he gets back in the White House.
N.b.
http://www.nytimes DOT com/2023/11/01/opinion/sunday/republican-war-mexico.html
"fat old",,I don't care for Trump but you sure sound like a sicko. You would vote for JoBye or Harris, I presume? After all they have done so much for the USA citizen……..:)
Putin actually replied to his boast about ending the conflict in Ukraine, asking for details which he would forward to the negotiating team. Of course there's only been crickets for replies.
1967 borders sounds fair, the rest is open season
Good luck, Lloyd. What would happen, do you think, if you actually sent troops into Gaza or into northern Israel? Do you think the US forces would continue to view Israel as a moral nation worth defending? The only thing the US can do is lob bombs at a great distance as it has done in all of its "wars" since their great victory in the WW II Sweepstakes. In that one they let others do the heavy lifting. Seriously, Lloyd, do you think the Israelis themselves will welcome foreign troops? Did you know there are thousands of Torah Jews who consider Zionism as a blasphmous project and will not fight? Do you want the American soldier to fight for them? ?
Do you want the American soldier to fight for them?
Yes, he does. A few thousand dead American soldiers did great things for Colin Powell's career, should work for him.
Of course, we defend ethnic cleansing as a matter of course, just as we defend Nazi regimes.
Question: what do these two have in common?
Answer: Absolutely nothing, it's just how we roll. We've become addicted to violence, which is also why we're simpatico with Israel.
Operation Paperclip. Rather than let them be hung, Allen Dulles saw their worth in the CIA.
Of course this asshole Austin, late of Raytheon, is eager to get us involved. This country is controlled by psychopathic morons, including the clowns jumping up and down to applaud the neo-Nazi from Israel.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has shown himself to be a slithering low-life assassin. He is thus known by his own words and friends.
…And who will defend US?………………………
Cause we will be getting our asses handed to US!
Well, "we" always do, but just think of all the billions that will go to Raytheon.
!!!
Constructive humor is always appreciated Bergoff Birns! I dig your name too!
;-}
Austin has no power to make that statement, only Congress via, the Constitution can declare war!! Austin is talking war!
Nah, he's assuming that Iran will do the same thing that they did last time, launch a few hundred drones and missiles, and we can spend another billion and a half trying (and failing) to intercept them. That's probably because none of those idiots have the imagination the gods gave an ant, they always assume the enemy-of-the-day is stupid, and frequently that they're aggressively stupid. I'll look for Iran to exploit some other hole in the Israeli defenses next time, every country has them.
Mindless idiocy. Just encourages the Apartheid State to do even more atrocities
It's amazing how descendants of slavery are now coopeted into the white mans machine Greenfield,…Austin…all involved in genocide against people of colour.
Powell…Rice…
""Austin Pledges the US Will Defend Israel""
hasn't the US been protecting Israel since decades ?
The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces are militias integrated as part of the Iraqi military. The base they hit was the coordination point for those militias, so probably half staffed with Iraqi units. We're attacking our own "allies" military forces, that certainly does sound like the epitome of military genius. /s
Couldn't help noticing that the attacks on the US bases started the day after the Iraqi government asked the Pentagram to leave again, and were told "No" again. What a coincidence, no?
Austin…uh, you mean the black man ? And will he be around when his "pledge" is fulfilled, or MIA again ? Just askin'. Two things for sure: His prostate issues might recur, but his prostrate reflex is 100%.