Austin told Gallant, “We stand together to ensure that Iran, which is the source of so much of the region's violence and instability, can never achieve a nuclear weapon."
In the balance is: the future of the war and post-war Gaza policy, the status of weapons sales in a range of areas, Iran policy, and related regional issues.
"Accomplishing your goals and objectives, and protecting civilians in a battle space, are not mutually exclusive," Austin said.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin clarified that the decision referred to only one shipment of arms and that no final decision had been made regarding other arms transfers to Israel.
Ryder said it's important to highlight this occurred before any US forces started moving any supplies, and no US assets were damaged. It's unclear if any Israeli assets sustained damage.
As both Israel and Iran mull reactions in light of growing tensions, the Biden administration has pushed Israel to hold consultations and communicate with the US prior to any strike on Iran.
Austin's testimony was interrupted by multiple pro-Palestinian protesters who erupted into applause each time Capitol Hill police escorted a demonstrator out of the senate chamber.
Gallant said that this juxtaposition of meetings and allegiances was "the clearest sign that there is a war going on between the free world and the axis which promotes terror."
More specifically, at the congressional hearing, Austin was asked how many Palestinian women and children had been killed by Israel, and Austin replied: "It is over 25,000."
Last week, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby told reporters in Washington that the US doesn’t want "a second front” on Israel’s northern border.
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