WEBVTT 00:00.259 --> 00:01.259 Lot of the 00:06.039 --> 00:08.890 hi everyone . Uh Mike , nice to see 00:08.899 --> 00:10.621 that you're back . Hope you're 00:10.621 --> 00:12.899 recovering well . Um So good afternoon . 00:12.899 --> 00:15.010 Just a few things here at the top and 00:15.010 --> 00:17.121 then I'd be happy to dive in and take 00:17.121 --> 00:19.232 your questions . So as you know , the 00:19.232 --> 00:21.399 secretary recently traveled to Ukraine 00:21.399 --> 00:21.180 earlier this week where he met with 00:21.190 --> 00:23.134 Ukrainian leaders to reinforce the 00:23.134 --> 00:25.190 staunch support of the United States 00:25.190 --> 00:27.412 for Ukraine's fight for freedom . While 00:27.412 --> 00:29.579 there , he met with President Zelensky 00:29.579 --> 00:31.523 and Minister of Defense Umarov and 00:31.523 --> 00:33.634 other leaders to receive an update on 00:33.634 --> 00:35.634 the situation on the battlefield in 00:35.634 --> 00:37.634 Ukraine . Additionally , during his 00:37.634 --> 00:39.857 trip , the secretary announced the 51st 00:39.857 --> 00:41.857 tranche of equipment to be provided 00:41.857 --> 00:44.023 from dod inventories for Ukraine since 00:44.023 --> 00:46.389 August 2021 valued at $100 million . 00:46.400 --> 00:48.456 This package includes additional air 00:48.456 --> 00:50.289 defense capabilities , artillery 00:50.289 --> 00:52.233 ammunition , anti tank weapons and 00:52.233 --> 00:54.400 other equipment to help Ukraine defend 00:54.400 --> 00:56.511 its sovereign territory and fight for 00:56.511 --> 00:58.622 its freedom from Russia's ongoing war 00:58.622 --> 01:00.622 of aggression . And on the heels of 01:00.622 --> 01:02.567 secretary's vis of the secretary's 01:02.567 --> 01:04.344 visit to Ukraine tomorrow , the 01:04.344 --> 01:06.511 secretary will virtually host the 17th 01:06.511 --> 01:08.678 meeting of the Ukraine defense contact 01:08.678 --> 01:10.344 group further reinforcing our 01:10.344 --> 01:12.400 commitment to Ukraine along with our 01:12.400 --> 01:14.289 more than 50 allies , the US will 01:14.289 --> 01:16.456 continue to work with the coalition of 01:16.456 --> 01:18.622 allies and partners to provide Ukraine 01:18.622 --> 01:20.622 the capabilities it needs to defend 01:20.622 --> 01:22.400 itself , which is why it's also 01:22.400 --> 01:24.511 critical that Congress take action to 01:24.511 --> 01:24.000 support Ukraine by passing the 01:24.010 --> 01:25.732 supplemental funding request . 01:26.989 --> 01:29.156 Switching gears to developments in the 01:29.156 --> 01:31.690 Middle East . I can confirm an attack 01:31.699 --> 01:34.209 last night by Iran backed militias 01:34.220 --> 01:36.529 using a close range ballistic missile 01:36.540 --> 01:39.980 against us . And coalition forces at Al 01:39.989 --> 01:42.739 Assad airbase in Iraq which resulted in 01:42.750 --> 01:44.959 several non serious injuries and some 01:44.970 --> 01:46.692 minor damage to infrastructure 01:46.959 --> 01:49.181 immediately following the attack . A US 01:49.190 --> 01:52.059 military ac 130 aircraft in the area 01:52.110 --> 01:54.332 conducted a self defense strike against 01:54.332 --> 01:56.620 an Iranian backed militia vehicle and a 01:56.629 --> 01:58.462 number of Iranian backed militia 01:58.462 --> 02:00.480 personnel involved in this attack . 02:00.919 --> 02:02.975 This self defense strike resulted in 02:02.975 --> 02:05.559 some hostile fatalities . And since I 02:05.569 --> 02:07.839 know you'll ask us forces have been 02:07.849 --> 02:10.070 attacked approximately 66 times since 02:10.080 --> 02:13.220 October 17th , 32 separate times in 02:13.229 --> 02:16.059 Iraq and 34 separate times in Syria . 02:16.509 --> 02:18.065 Us personnel have sustained 02:18.065 --> 02:20.770 approximately 62 injuries but this does 02:20.779 --> 02:22.809 not include any injuries from last 02:22.820 --> 02:24.987 night's attack as they are still being 02:24.987 --> 02:27.098 evaluated . And with that , I'm happy 02:27.098 --> 02:29.264 to take some questions . Tara , do you 02:29.264 --> 02:31.376 want to start us off ? Thank you . Um 02:31.376 --> 02:33.542 So we'll start with the strike . Um So 02:33.542 --> 02:35.487 retaliatory strike seems to be the 02:35.487 --> 02:38.020 first uh since these hostilities began 02:38.029 --> 02:39.973 where there were people as targets 02:39.973 --> 02:41.862 instead of uh infrastructure or a 02:41.862 --> 02:43.751 weapon storage facility . Can you 02:43.751 --> 02:45.751 provide any details about why these 02:45.751 --> 02:47.973 specific militants were targeted ? So I 02:47.973 --> 02:50.960 wouldn't say that I was um well , let 02:50.970 --> 02:53.190 me take a step back . The militants 02:53.199 --> 02:56.440 were targeted because uh the , the ac 02:56.449 --> 02:58.616 130 was able to determine the point of 02:58.616 --> 03:01.759 origin from where the um close range 03:01.770 --> 03:03.937 ballistic missile was being fired upon 03:03.937 --> 03:06.130 or , or fired um to the base . So they 03:06.139 --> 03:08.250 were able to take action because they 03:08.250 --> 03:10.361 saw uh the militants , they were able 03:10.361 --> 03:12.759 to keep an eye on the movement of um 03:13.080 --> 03:15.210 these , these militants as they moved 03:15.220 --> 03:17.276 into their vehicles . And that's why 03:17.276 --> 03:19.276 they were able to uh to respond . I 03:19.276 --> 03:21.442 wouldn't say this is the first time we 03:21.442 --> 03:23.498 have responded . Um Again , we don't 03:23.498 --> 03:25.664 read out every single time that um how 03:25.664 --> 03:27.720 a certain system or capability takes 03:27.720 --> 03:29.831 down a drone or rocket attack . Um We 03:29.831 --> 03:31.850 have had other cases where we have 03:31.860 --> 03:35.589 responded um in retaliation uh when we 03:35.600 --> 03:37.544 were able to identify the point of 03:37.544 --> 03:39.656 origin . So it's not our first time . 03:39.656 --> 03:42.770 Um But it is uh just something that , 03:42.779 --> 03:44.946 um , you know , has been , of course , 03:44.946 --> 03:47.001 publicly reported . And so wanted to 03:47.001 --> 03:49.112 make sure that all the facts were out 03:49.112 --> 03:48.850 there . Ok . Just to pull on that . I 03:48.860 --> 03:51.500 have one other topic . Um So you said 03:51.509 --> 03:53.509 it's not the first time that you've 03:53.509 --> 03:55.676 responded , but I think the building's 03:55.676 --> 03:57.787 been , you've announced basically all 03:57.787 --> 03:57.750 these other strikes and you've said 03:57.759 --> 03:59.926 it's been a weapon storage facility or 03:59.926 --> 04:01.981 training facility and if people have 04:01.981 --> 04:04.037 been killed , it has been kind of um 04:04.059 --> 04:06.059 because of the strike , not because 04:06.059 --> 04:08.281 they were being targeted specifically . 04:08.281 --> 04:10.503 Uh So you're not saying that like these 04:10.503 --> 04:12.615 specific militants were targeted , do 04:12.615 --> 04:14.726 you have any idea who these militants 04:14.726 --> 04:14.339 were ? We know that these are our 04:14.350 --> 04:18.209 Iranian backed militia members . 04:18.220 --> 04:20.329 Um But again , just to , just to 04:20.339 --> 04:22.339 differentiate , we have taken three 04:22.339 --> 04:24.850 strikes um in self defense , but those 04:24.859 --> 04:27.100 were preplanned . So it's just a little 04:27.109 --> 04:29.220 different here in terms of the nuance 04:29.220 --> 04:31.442 of how we're talking about these , this 04:31.442 --> 04:33.553 uh self defense strike that we took . 04:33.553 --> 04:36.609 Um what was it ? Early , early morning ? 04:36.679 --> 04:39.410 I think , um our time eastern time , um 04:39.420 --> 04:41.750 we were able to identify the point of 04:41.760 --> 04:43.871 origin of these attacks because an ac 04:43.871 --> 04:46.570 130 was up already in the area and 04:46.579 --> 04:48.801 therefore , was able to respond . Um We 04:48.801 --> 04:51.023 do of course , read out any retaliatory 04:51.023 --> 04:53.190 action or self defense strikes that we 04:53.190 --> 04:55.660 take , but just wanna sort of put these 04:55.670 --> 04:57.670 into separate buckets as we , as we 04:57.670 --> 04:59.503 talk about them . There's been a 04:59.503 --> 05:01.670 retaliatory strike . Yes , but again , 05:01.670 --> 05:03.781 it wasn't planned . So we were able , 05:03.781 --> 05:05.948 there was an ac 130 up in the air that 05:05.948 --> 05:07.837 was able to identify the point of 05:07.837 --> 05:10.059 origin and was able to respond and then 05:10.059 --> 05:11.837 just separate topic um as these 05:11.837 --> 05:13.948 negotiations for hostage release , um 05:13.948 --> 05:15.948 continue , uh part of what has been 05:15.948 --> 05:17.948 negotiated is that there might be a 05:17.948 --> 05:19.948 pullback of any surveillance . Does 05:19.948 --> 05:22.114 this include us , surveillance systems 05:22.114 --> 05:24.170 with the US ? Pull back its drones . 05:24.170 --> 05:26.226 Yeah , I think you saw the president 05:26.226 --> 05:28.448 speak to this earlier today that , um , 05:28.448 --> 05:31.440 while we are certainly , um , heartened 05:31.450 --> 05:33.394 by the way , the conversations are 05:33.394 --> 05:35.228 going , there's still not a deal 05:35.228 --> 05:37.450 reached , um , until there is one , I'm 05:37.450 --> 05:39.672 just not going to get ahead of anything 05:39.672 --> 05:41.839 that we will or won't do when it comes 05:41.839 --> 05:44.061 to ISR um or anything that it's that we 05:44.061 --> 05:46.006 are doing when it comes to hostage 05:46.006 --> 05:48.117 recovery . You know , we're assisting 05:48.117 --> 05:50.450 with that um from the embassy of course , 05:50.450 --> 05:52.617 but I just don't have more details and 05:52.617 --> 05:52.239 definitely don't want to get ahead of 05:52.250 --> 05:54.950 any deal that that might happen . But 05:54.959 --> 05:57.126 whether or not it's part of it is that 05:57.126 --> 05:59.348 one of the options ? I'm just not going 05:59.348 --> 05:59.170 to get into further details on that . 05:59.709 --> 06:03.029 Yeah , Rio , thank you , North Korea . 06:03.380 --> 06:05.559 Does the Pentagon confirm North Korea 06:05.570 --> 06:08.119 has successfully placed a spy satellite 06:08.380 --> 06:11.329 into orbit . We are aware of the D Pr 06:11.339 --> 06:13.489 K's launch of a space launch vehicle 06:13.670 --> 06:16.369 and are consulting with Rock and Japan 06:16.670 --> 06:18.892 um as well as other regional allies and 06:18.892 --> 06:22.049 partners . Uh We so I can confirm that 06:22.059 --> 06:24.226 we are aware of that , but we're still 06:24.226 --> 06:26.609 assessing um the success of the launch . 06:27.820 --> 06:31.049 Do you affect the new spy satellite 06:31.059 --> 06:33.281 would potentially enhance North Korea's 06:33.281 --> 06:35.503 military capability ? Does that require 06:35.503 --> 06:37.989 more us military assets in the region ? 06:38.070 --> 06:39.959 Well , I'm not going to speculate 06:39.959 --> 06:42.014 because we don't also know if it was 06:42.014 --> 06:43.959 successful . Um So again , this is 06:43.959 --> 06:46.181 something that we continue to work with 06:46.181 --> 06:48.348 our partners in the region , with Rock 06:48.348 --> 06:50.570 and Japan to continue to assess . Um We 06:50.570 --> 06:52.348 know this is another example of 06:52.348 --> 06:54.570 destabilizing action in the region . Um 06:54.570 --> 06:56.980 And we again just reiterate our very 06:56.989 --> 07:00.609 firm commitment to um uh the Republic 07:00.619 --> 07:02.841 of Korea and Japan . But how it's gonna 07:02.841 --> 07:04.452 affect the D Pr K's military 07:04.452 --> 07:06.619 capabilities . I just wouldn't be able 07:06.619 --> 07:08.730 to speculate on that . Yeah , Idris , 07:08.730 --> 07:10.841 you have carried out tator strikes in 07:10.841 --> 07:13.008 Iraq since October 7th , since October 07:13.008 --> 07:15.279 7th , or you mean since October 17th ? 07:15.500 --> 07:17.667 Yes , October 17th , we have , well as 07:17.667 --> 07:19.667 you know , well , again , trying to 07:19.667 --> 07:21.778 parse out the two buckets you've also 07:21.778 --> 07:24.040 done prior to yesterday night . I don't 07:24.049 --> 07:26.216 have the , um , I don't have the exact 07:26.216 --> 07:28.271 details of all the responses that we 07:28.271 --> 07:30.382 have done . Um , whether if it was in 07:30.382 --> 07:32.320 Syria or Iraq , um for the three 07:32.329 --> 07:34.519 strikes that we have announced those 07:34.529 --> 07:36.700 were all in Syria . Um For the one 07:36.709 --> 07:39.769 again that was took place early this 07:39.779 --> 07:43.019 morning , we had an aircraft that was 07:43.029 --> 07:46.920 able to identify where the close 07:46.929 --> 07:49.096 range ballistic missile was being shot 07:49.096 --> 07:51.151 from . And therefore we were able to 07:51.151 --> 07:53.373 take action . I would have to take that 07:53.373 --> 07:55.485 question . I don't have the answer to 07:55.485 --> 07:57.707 that . Just , it's another question the 07:57.707 --> 07:59.762 French have now sent two warships to 07:59.762 --> 08:01.929 provide medical assistance to those in 08:01.929 --> 08:04.151 Gaza . Given the amount of warships you 08:04.151 --> 08:06.262 have is a secretary considering using 08:06.262 --> 08:08.096 some of those to provide medical 08:08.096 --> 08:10.207 assistance . I don't have anything to 08:10.207 --> 08:12.373 preview today . Um Most of the medical 08:12.373 --> 08:14.318 assistance that I know that we are 08:14.318 --> 08:16.429 really focused on is making sure that 08:16.429 --> 08:18.485 humanitarian aid is getting into the 08:18.485 --> 08:20.651 region . Um We are continuing to see a 08:20.651 --> 08:22.873 steady flow of trucks being able to get 08:22.873 --> 08:25.160 life saving support , medical supplies , 08:25.190 --> 08:27.899 food and other assistance into Gaza . 08:28.019 --> 08:30.075 But um I just don't have anything to 08:30.075 --> 08:31.908 announce from here today on , on 08:31.908 --> 08:34.130 anything that any of our ships would be 08:34.130 --> 08:35.852 doing , Tony on the spy of the 08:35.852 --> 08:37.908 satellite . You're not confirming it 08:37.908 --> 08:39.797 was a spy satellite . You're just 08:39.797 --> 08:42.130 confirming there was a launch , correct , 08:42.130 --> 08:42.030 correct . So it could be a weather 08:42.039 --> 08:44.150 satellite , a communication satellite 08:44.150 --> 08:46.317 or something , not a spy . All we know 08:46.317 --> 08:48.483 is that was a space , the space launch 08:48.483 --> 08:50.706 vehicle , but I don't have more details 08:50.706 --> 08:52.817 than that clear . Uh I'm switching to 08:52.817 --> 08:54.928 Israel again , how much equipment has 08:54.928 --> 08:56.872 the US tapped from its war reserve 08:57.010 --> 09:00.239 located in Israel for ID F use ? 09:03.140 --> 09:05.084 Well as you know that the types of 09:05.084 --> 09:07.307 equipment that we continue to provide . 09:07.307 --> 09:09.450 Israel range from um 1.5 millimeter 09:09.460 --> 09:11.890 rounds , uh precision guided munitions 09:11.989 --> 09:14.045 and air defense systems not going to 09:14.045 --> 09:16.045 get into more specifics on that . I 09:16.045 --> 09:18.100 know I've seen some of the reporting 09:18.100 --> 09:20.211 out there , but I'm just not going to 09:20.211 --> 09:22.378 get into uh more specifics right now . 09:22.378 --> 09:24.600 Um In terms of what we are supplying or 09:24.600 --> 09:26.822 how we are . I think that's what you're 09:26.822 --> 09:29.156 asking how we are supplying . Um Israel . 09:29.156 --> 09:31.267 Uh We have been able to supply Israel 09:31.267 --> 09:33.156 from our stocks stockpiles within 09:33.156 --> 09:35.267 Israel and we have other stockpiles . 09:35.267 --> 09:37.489 Of course , available to us that we are 09:37.489 --> 09:39.711 flowing aid and continue to flow aid to 09:39.711 --> 09:41.989 Israel . I was a casualty question too . 09:41.989 --> 09:44.211 The Pentagon within the policy shop has 09:44.211 --> 09:46.433 a civilian harm and mitigation response 09:46.433 --> 09:48.545 group that congressman , did you guys 09:48.545 --> 09:48.033 set up ? A couple of years ago , 09:48.533 --> 09:50.593 Assistant Secretary Carlin last week 09:50.603 --> 09:52.603 said that some of the people in her 09:52.603 --> 09:55.833 group are monitoring the events in Gaza . 09:55.843 --> 09:58.010 Can you give a little bit more clarity 09:58.010 --> 10:00.121 in terms of what they're monitoring ? 10:00.121 --> 10:02.121 And are they gathering reports from 10:02.121 --> 10:04.343 human rights groups or what exactly are 10:04.343 --> 10:06.343 they monitoring ? I don't have more 10:06.343 --> 10:06.026 specific fix on what they are 10:06.036 --> 10:09.476 monitoring what they continue to um or 10:09.486 --> 10:11.597 the information that they continue to 10:11.597 --> 10:14.705 receive um is information that's both 10:14.716 --> 10:16.938 going to be publicly available and then 10:16.938 --> 10:19.049 of course , um anything that comes in 10:19.049 --> 10:21.105 through other channels , but I don't 10:21.105 --> 10:23.327 have more specific details on that . Um 10:23.327 --> 10:25.383 It's something that uh you know , as 10:25.383 --> 10:27.327 you mentioned , this civilian hard 10:27.327 --> 10:29.250 mitigation and response um entity 10:29.260 --> 10:32.479 continues to look at and their review 10:32.489 --> 10:34.760 does inform senior leaders here in the 10:34.770 --> 10:36.659 building accurate to say that the 10:36.659 --> 10:39.070 Pentagon is actively monitoring reports 10:39.080 --> 10:41.419 of civilian casualties in . I would say 10:41.429 --> 10:44.239 it's accurate for this for chimer , the 10:44.250 --> 10:47.179 civilian harm mitigation and response 10:47.330 --> 10:49.679 office to be doing that . Yeah , of 10:49.690 --> 10:52.179 course . Yeah . Thanks on the 10:52.190 --> 10:54.599 unannounced retaliatory strikes . Have 10:54.609 --> 10:57.440 any of those killed any militants ? Uh , 10:57.450 --> 10:59.672 I think I read this out in the , in the 10:59.672 --> 11:01.728 topper but I did say that we believe 11:01.728 --> 11:03.950 there are some , uh , fatalities . Um , 11:06.090 --> 11:08.090 you mean the strikes that , uh , we 11:08.090 --> 11:10.549 have taken proactively like that we had 11:10.559 --> 11:13.700 announced from , uh , the second or the ? 11:14.330 --> 11:17.710 Sure . Um , oh , for the unno , I don't 11:17.719 --> 11:19.663 have anything more for you on , on 11:19.663 --> 11:22.219 other casualties and then to follow up 11:22.229 --> 11:24.890 a separate topic . Um , last week , 11:24.900 --> 11:27.059 Senator Lindsey Graham suggested that 11:27.070 --> 11:30.729 the US should target Iran directly . Um , 11:30.869 --> 11:32.869 instead of these Iranian affiliated 11:32.869 --> 11:35.799 groups in Iraq and Syria . Um , why is 11:35.809 --> 11:38.159 the Pentagon not doing that ? Uh Can 11:38.169 --> 11:39.700 you any reaction ? 11:41.780 --> 11:45.760 Well , we feel that , uh , one we are 11:45.770 --> 11:49.359 extremely mindful of this uh conflict 11:49.369 --> 11:51.702 broadening out into a regional conflict . 11:51.702 --> 11:53.869 That's what we do not want to see . We 11:53.869 --> 11:55.647 do not want to be pulled into a 11:55.647 --> 11:57.758 regional conflict , both from attacks 11:57.758 --> 11:59.758 on our troops and also from what is 11:59.758 --> 12:02.570 happening in Israel . Um , we feel very 12:02.580 --> 12:05.440 confident that the , um , 12:05.890 --> 12:08.479 targets that we have selected . One . 12:08.489 --> 12:12.450 We know that Iran supports backs arms 12:12.460 --> 12:15.619 equips financially , uh , uh supports 12:15.630 --> 12:18.210 these groups and these , these I RGC 12:18.219 --> 12:21.200 affiliate , uh uh sorry , locations and 12:21.210 --> 12:23.266 their affiliates . So we are hitting 12:23.266 --> 12:25.154 them where it hurts . Um , we are 12:25.154 --> 12:27.321 hitting weapons storage facilities and 12:27.321 --> 12:29.377 completely destroying them . So they 12:29.377 --> 12:31.377 are no longer of use . Um But we do 12:31.377 --> 12:33.488 want to see this conflict contained . 12:33.488 --> 12:35.989 Um Of course , we will always choose to 12:36.000 --> 12:37.944 respond at a time and place of our 12:37.944 --> 12:40.289 choosing . Um But again , we feel very 12:40.299 --> 12:43.599 confident in the responses that we 12:43.609 --> 12:46.669 have uh or the targets we have selected 12:46.679 --> 12:48.140 in Syria , Joseph 12:50.179 --> 12:52.750 Kirby earlier said that Russia's Wagner 12:52.760 --> 12:55.539 group maybe provide , may provide air 12:55.549 --> 12:59.369 defense capabilities to Hezbollah or 12:59.500 --> 13:01.500 Iran . Does the Pentagon share that 13:01.500 --> 13:03.667 assessment ? Can you elaborate or give 13:03.667 --> 13:05.889 any more updates or clarity on that ? I 13:05.889 --> 13:08.056 don't have anything to dispute that we 13:08.056 --> 13:10.111 certainly share that assessment . We 13:10.111 --> 13:12.489 haven't seen that happen , but we know 13:12.500 --> 13:15.710 that look since the beginning of the 13:15.719 --> 13:19.010 war in Ukraine , um it's clearly what 13:19.020 --> 13:21.076 is happening in Ukraine is not , you 13:21.076 --> 13:23.242 know , falling in Russia's favor . And 13:23.242 --> 13:26.049 so we've seen Russia continue to seek 13:26.059 --> 13:28.750 out support from other countries such 13:28.760 --> 13:31.559 as the D , Pr K and Iran , we know Iran 13:31.570 --> 13:34.469 is supplying them with um drones that 13:34.479 --> 13:37.119 you're seeing hit in Ukrainian cities , 13:37.130 --> 13:40.080 civilian infrastructure . Um And so we 13:40.090 --> 13:43.650 are closely aware of the deepening 13:43.659 --> 13:45.770 relationship with Russia and Iran and 13:45.770 --> 13:47.548 that's something that of course 13:47.548 --> 13:49.715 concerns us . Um I don't have anything 13:49.715 --> 13:52.039 to confirm of any type of transfer of 13:52.049 --> 13:53.882 uh this capability , but um it's 13:53.882 --> 13:56.105 something that we continue to monitor . 13:56.105 --> 13:58.327 Um follow up on last week . Uh When you 13:58.327 --> 14:01.159 guys downgraded intel on not a hospital , 14:01.309 --> 14:03.420 is there any more intel that you guys 14:03.420 --> 14:05.587 can elaborate or provide to the public 14:05.587 --> 14:07.476 on uh with that hospital or other 14:07.476 --> 14:09.859 hospitals in , in Gaza that Hamas was 14:09.869 --> 14:12.202 allegedly using as a commanding officer . 14:13.359 --> 14:15.415 Yeah , I don't have anything more to 14:15.415 --> 14:17.526 provide today today , two journalists 14:17.526 --> 14:20.690 were killed in Lebanon . I think marks 14:20.700 --> 14:22.867 three or four that have been killed by 14:22.867 --> 14:24.700 the Lebanese army said it was an 14:24.700 --> 14:26.478 Israeli strike , any comment or 14:26.478 --> 14:28.700 response . I've seen that reporting and 14:28.700 --> 14:30.589 I know you've asked me about this 14:30.589 --> 14:34.000 before and of course , that is awful . 14:34.140 --> 14:37.179 Um We certainly don't condone the 14:37.190 --> 14:39.030 targeting of journalists who are 14:39.039 --> 14:41.200 covering this war who are doing their 14:41.210 --> 14:44.359 job uh by reporting . Um I don't have 14:44.369 --> 14:47.409 more information um in regards to what 14:47.419 --> 14:49.586 the , the strike , I think that you're 14:49.586 --> 14:51.586 referencing , but I have seen those 14:51.586 --> 14:53.419 reports and again , just blanket 14:53.419 --> 14:55.475 condemnation of any journalists that 14:55.475 --> 14:57.809 are um doing their jobs on the front 14:57.820 --> 15:00.070 lines , um reporting on what is 15:00.080 --> 15:02.247 happening on the ground in Israel , in 15:02.247 --> 15:04.510 Ukraine wherever it might be . Um Of 15:04.520 --> 15:06.187 course , we don't want to see 15:06.187 --> 15:08.242 journalists being targeted like that 15:10.380 --> 15:13.210 on , on the work that you said , like 15:13.219 --> 15:15.275 the reports they're collecting . How 15:15.275 --> 15:17.229 much is this work informing the 15:17.239 --> 15:19.350 secretary and the department in terms 15:19.350 --> 15:21.461 of support to Israel . It's something 15:21.461 --> 15:23.183 that informs senior leadership 15:23.183 --> 15:25.239 conversations here or senior leaders 15:25.239 --> 15:27.406 conversations here , I should say . Um 15:27.406 --> 15:29.572 again , I'm not going to get into more 15:29.572 --> 15:31.795 details on that , but that is something 15:31.795 --> 15:33.850 that this department is focused on . 15:33.850 --> 15:37.010 And um as they assess uh more material 15:37.320 --> 15:39.799 that gets uh flowed up through our 15:39.809 --> 15:42.760 system here . Uh That like at a certain 15:42.770 --> 15:45.169 point , will you be able to share the 15:45.179 --> 15:47.235 findings or there's not , I wouldn't 15:47.235 --> 15:49.235 say this is like a formal report or 15:49.235 --> 15:52.710 formal um like uh investigation or task 15:52.719 --> 15:54.719 force that's being put into place . 15:54.719 --> 15:56.830 This is what this office does , um or 15:56.830 --> 15:58.719 one of the many functions of this 15:58.719 --> 16:01.010 office and um you know , we're grateful 16:01.020 --> 16:03.239 to have it and it does inform our 16:03.250 --> 16:05.739 thinking as of course , we engage with 16:05.750 --> 16:08.890 um the Israelis and all frankly , all 16:08.900 --> 16:11.070 of our partners and allies um in any 16:11.080 --> 16:13.302 type of situation . So that , that this 16:13.302 --> 16:15.524 office adds incredible value , not just 16:15.524 --> 16:17.469 to for the but other circumstances 16:17.469 --> 16:20.369 around the world before the land 16:20.380 --> 16:23.090 invasion of northern parts of Gaza , 16:23.099 --> 16:24.932 there's been lots of discussions 16:24.932 --> 16:28.039 between this department and the Israeli 16:28.049 --> 16:31.090 forces about civilian harm mitigation , 16:31.099 --> 16:34.250 how to sharing experiences from other 16:34.260 --> 16:36.880 wars . Now , it seems Israel is 16:36.890 --> 16:39.020 signaling , it wants to move its 16:39.030 --> 16:40.974 operation and land invasion to the 16:40.974 --> 16:42.974 southern parts of Gaza . And you do 16:42.974 --> 16:45.169 know that hundreds of thousands have 16:45.179 --> 16:47.235 been displaced in that area which is 16:47.235 --> 16:49.770 very crowded under a severe civilian 16:49.780 --> 16:51.724 humanitarian crisis . According to 16:51.724 --> 16:54.409 international organizations is the dod 16:54.419 --> 16:57.179 currently active in conversation with 16:57.190 --> 16:59.250 the , with the Israelis about this 16:59.260 --> 17:02.489 potential operation . And , and do you 17:02.500 --> 17:06.339 think um escalating the 17:06.349 --> 17:10.339 land or incursion will have major risks 17:10.349 --> 17:13.199 on civilian Palestinian civilians in 17:13.209 --> 17:15.376 the southern parts of Gaza . Well , we 17:15.376 --> 17:17.542 know , as you mentioned , the south is 17:17.542 --> 17:21.339 where civilians were told to go to flee 17:21.349 --> 17:23.405 the con or , and , and move , uh , I 17:23.405 --> 17:25.627 should say relocate from the north . So 17:25.627 --> 17:27.793 of course , it's something that we are 17:27.793 --> 17:29.571 in conversations about with the 17:29.571 --> 17:31.900 Israelis . It is their operation . Um , 17:31.910 --> 17:34.132 and it is something that they will have 17:34.132 --> 17:36.299 to speak to . But absolutely , we , we 17:36.299 --> 17:38.354 are , um , having conversations with 17:38.354 --> 17:40.466 them , the secretary , I believe just 17:40.466 --> 17:42.632 had another call , um , or is going to 17:42.632 --> 17:44.910 have another call with Minister Galant , 17:44.910 --> 17:47.077 um , today . And it's , it's of course 17:47.077 --> 17:48.688 something that in all of our 17:48.688 --> 17:50.910 conversations , whenever we talk to our 17:50.910 --> 17:53.484 Israeli counterparts , um , abiding by 17:53.494 --> 17:55.805 the law of armed conflict , protecting 17:55.814 --> 17:57.536 those human or upholding those 17:57.536 --> 17:59.258 humanitarian laws is extremely 17:59.258 --> 18:01.370 important . Um , and that's something 18:01.370 --> 18:03.536 that you continue to see reiterated in 18:03.536 --> 18:05.592 our readouts as well that we post on 18:05.592 --> 18:07.703 online . Great . I'm just gonna go to 18:07.703 --> 18:09.814 the phones real quickly here before I 18:09.814 --> 18:12.036 forget . Um , Haley CNN . I believe you 18:12.036 --> 18:14.147 were on the phone . Yeah . Hi , thank 18:14.147 --> 18:16.314 you . Um , I'm wondering just a couple 18:16.314 --> 18:18.536 of follow ups on , um , the attack last 18:18.536 --> 18:20.536 night . Uh , is this the first time 18:20.536 --> 18:23.170 that we have seen a ballistic missile 18:23.180 --> 18:25.180 used in this way ? And then is this 18:25.180 --> 18:27.402 also the first time ? And I know you're 18:27.402 --> 18:29.569 saying that we've , uh , res respond , 18:29.569 --> 18:31.736 you know , had these kind of responses 18:31.736 --> 18:33.902 um , previously when we know the point 18:33.902 --> 18:36.124 of origin . Is this the first time that 18:36.124 --> 18:38.236 we know that hostile forces have been 18:38.236 --> 18:40.347 killed or um have , has that happened 18:40.347 --> 18:42.458 in the past ? Uh Thanks Haley . So in 18:42.458 --> 18:44.569 terms of uh your first question , was 18:44.569 --> 18:46.635 this the first time that um a close 18:46.645 --> 18:49.156 range ballistic missile was used ? Yes , 18:49.166 --> 18:51.255 this is the first time since October 18:51.265 --> 18:53.975 17th . Um when these attacks started on 18:53.985 --> 18:56.291 us forces , this is the first time that 18:56.432 --> 18:58.321 um this type of munition was used 18:58.321 --> 19:00.952 against us forces . Um And then on your 19:00.962 --> 19:02.629 second question , in terms of 19:02.629 --> 19:04.740 casualties , um I believe this is the 19:04.740 --> 19:06.851 first time that we are assessing that 19:06.851 --> 19:09.073 there were some casualties . Um But I , 19:09.073 --> 19:11.184 I just don't have more information on 19:11.184 --> 19:13.018 any other additional retaliatory 19:13.018 --> 19:16.709 strikes we've taken um in the past . Uh 19:16.719 --> 19:18.941 ok , great . I'm gonna go to Jeff Shoal 19:18.941 --> 19:21.052 task on purpose . Thank you . Can the 19:21.052 --> 19:23.275 duty provide any more information about 19:23.275 --> 19:25.599 what exactly is this close range 19:25.609 --> 19:28.310 ballistic missile ? Also can duty say 19:28.319 --> 19:31.510 why the AC 130 had its transponder on 19:31.520 --> 19:33.687 while conducting the strike , allowing 19:33.687 --> 19:35.742 flight trackers to follow it in real 19:35.742 --> 19:37.909 time . Thanks Jeff for your question . 19:37.909 --> 19:40.131 Um I'm sorry , this is going to be very 19:40.131 --> 19:42.242 unsatisfactory , but I cannot provide 19:42.242 --> 19:44.353 any further details on either of your 19:44.353 --> 19:46.409 questions . Um And last one from the 19:46.409 --> 19:48.500 phone , uh heather us and I , hi , 19:48.510 --> 19:50.621 thanks so much to your questions . Um 19:50.621 --> 19:52.566 So first , uh we heard that the uh 19:52.566 --> 19:55.650 secretary of uh of extended the Fords 19:55.660 --> 19:57.882 deployment . I wanted to see if you had 19:57.882 --> 20:00.099 any extra detail on that . And second 20:00.109 --> 20:03.569 last week , um you refer to the um , 20:03.579 --> 20:05.635 Palestine , the Gaza Health Ministry 20:05.635 --> 20:07.857 with some skepticism when talking about 20:07.857 --> 20:10.023 the numbers . And I was just wondering 20:10.023 --> 20:11.912 if the dod is treating uh Israeli 20:11.912 --> 20:14.135 intelligence with the same skepticism . 20:14.135 --> 20:16.190 It's treating information that comes 20:16.190 --> 20:18.301 out of Gaza . Thanks Heather for your 20:18.301 --> 20:17.839 question . Um In terms of the Ford 20:17.849 --> 20:20.071 deployment , she remains on station , I 20:20.071 --> 20:22.127 have no announcements to make on her 20:22.127 --> 20:24.293 movement . Um When the secretary feels 20:24.293 --> 20:26.627 that uh the Ford is ready to rotate out , 20:26.989 --> 20:29.211 we will certainly let you know . But at 20:29.211 --> 20:31.378 this moment , I just uh she remains on 20:31.378 --> 20:33.322 station in the Eastern Med . Um in 20:33.322 --> 20:35.378 terms of uh your second question , I 20:35.378 --> 20:37.545 think it is important to remember that 20:37.545 --> 20:39.719 the Health Ministry in Gaza is in fact 20:39.729 --> 20:42.079 run by Hamas . So we cannot 20:42.089 --> 20:45.420 independently verify uh the casualty 20:45.430 --> 20:49.219 numbers um from a US source uh at this 20:49.229 --> 20:51.780 time . Um again , with anything when it 20:51.790 --> 20:54.012 comes to intelligence , of course , the 20:54.012 --> 20:57.239 United States um always seeks to uh 20:57.250 --> 21:00.819 verify information on our own um and 21:00.829 --> 21:02.885 through our own source and methods . 21:02.885 --> 21:05.375 But um we , we do see the public uh 21:05.385 --> 21:08.194 reporting out there . Again . It's just 21:08.204 --> 21:11.175 to caution um as people report on these 21:11.185 --> 21:13.129 numbers that this is the Hamas run 21:13.129 --> 21:15.074 Health Ministry . And so we cannot 21:15.074 --> 21:17.129 independently verify these numbers . 21:17.129 --> 21:20.244 Great . Yeah , Janie , thank you . Uh 21:20.275 --> 21:23.655 uh on North Korea satellite , did the 21:23.665 --> 21:26.824 Pentagon uh aware of Russia have to 21:26.834 --> 21:29.974 transport satellite technology to North 21:30.015 --> 21:32.469 Korea . I'm not aware of any reports of 21:32.479 --> 21:35.040 Rus Russia transferring , I'm not aware 21:35.050 --> 21:38.000 of any of those reports . If they 21:38.579 --> 21:40.746 transport to North Scotia , it will be 21:40.746 --> 21:42.900 a successful launch . Again . I'm not 21:42.910 --> 21:44.799 aware of anything to do with this 21:44.799 --> 21:46.910 launch in Russia . All I can tell you 21:46.910 --> 21:49.589 is we are aware of the space um launch 21:49.599 --> 21:52.420 vehicle that North Korea uh launched , 21:52.430 --> 21:55.510 I believe is um today on the 21st . Um 21:55.520 --> 21:57.742 but I don't have more information and , 21:57.742 --> 21:59.576 and , and frankly don't have any 21:59.576 --> 22:01.631 details or would be able to give you 22:01.631 --> 22:03.576 any details on how Russia would be 22:03.576 --> 22:06.902 involved in that . And uh South Korean 22:06.912 --> 22:10.743 Defense Minister said that they uh if 22:11.762 --> 22:15.103 North Korea would launch the 22:15.822 --> 22:19.465 again and the 919 , 22:19.475 --> 22:22.215 North Korea and South Korea a military 22:22.225 --> 22:26.115 agreement and this is what discussed at 22:26.125 --> 22:29.066 the , listen to us and South Korea 22:29.076 --> 22:32.255 defense ministers meeting is the US 22:32.265 --> 22:35.985 decisions the same as the South Korea . 22:36.186 --> 22:38.408 I think what you're referring to is the 22:38.408 --> 22:40.575 C MA . And again , that's an agreement 22:40.575 --> 22:42.605 between the two nations and I just 22:42.615 --> 22:45.465 don't have anything further to share 22:45.475 --> 22:47.697 with you this afternoon . Yeah , in the 22:47.697 --> 22:50.880 back a follow up from last week . And 22:50.890 --> 22:53.057 another colleague had asked a question 22:53.057 --> 22:55.112 two weeks prior to that , you know , 22:55.112 --> 22:57.334 you said the military continues to flow 22:57.334 --> 23:00.189 to Israel . How much in US dollars have 23:00.199 --> 23:02.310 you ? Are you still working on that ? 23:02.310 --> 23:04.421 We are still working on that and I do 23:04.421 --> 23:04.270 owe you an answer and I have not 23:04.280 --> 23:06.489 forgotten . So , iii I will come back 23:06.500 --> 23:09.790 to you on that . So , 23:10.310 --> 23:12.477 just like my colleague said that there 23:12.477 --> 23:14.643 were lots of conversations between the 23:14.643 --> 23:16.477 Americans and the Israelis about 23:16.477 --> 23:18.770 mitigating civilian loss of life and 23:18.780 --> 23:21.609 how they can um responsibly carry out 23:21.619 --> 23:24.430 these uh offenses . And now they're 23:24.439 --> 23:26.606 looking to move into the South where , 23:26.606 --> 23:28.550 as you said , and so many people , 23:28.550 --> 23:30.772 hundreds of thousands , perhaps they've 23:30.772 --> 23:32.717 been told to move to it . Now , if 23:32.717 --> 23:34.939 that's any indication , the invasion of 23:34.939 --> 23:37.161 the North , are we expecting another at 23:37.161 --> 23:39.050 least 15,000 Sweden deaths in the 23:39.050 --> 23:40.828 upcoming weeks ? Look , I can't 23:40.828 --> 23:42.790 speculate on um an operation that 23:42.800 --> 23:44.800 hasn't happened , an operation that 23:44.800 --> 23:46.800 we're not involved in uh what I can 23:46.800 --> 23:49.430 tell you is in every single one of our 23:49.439 --> 23:51.689 conversations from this department and 23:51.699 --> 23:53.939 you've heard from other podiums . Um 23:53.949 --> 23:56.227 And , and including at the White House . 23:56.227 --> 23:58.338 Um One of the things that we continue 23:58.338 --> 24:00.005 to emphasize with our Israeli 24:00.005 --> 24:02.270 counterparts is um the , the 24:02.280 --> 24:04.630 preservation of innocent lives . Um 24:04.640 --> 24:06.362 That is something that you see 24:06.362 --> 24:08.696 consistently , not only in our readouts , 24:08.696 --> 24:10.751 but both publicly and privately . We 24:10.751 --> 24:12.696 continue to emphasize . Um I can't 24:12.696 --> 24:14.862 speculate on what's going to happen in 24:14.862 --> 24:17.449 the South . Um I , again , I'm just 24:17.459 --> 24:20.510 going to say that we remain in your 24:20.520 --> 24:22.790 daily contact with our Israeli 24:22.800 --> 24:25.022 counterpart with , with the secretary's 24:25.022 --> 24:27.189 Israeli counterpart . Um I'm not gonna 24:27.189 --> 24:30.589 characterize how again we're not going 24:30.599 --> 24:32.766 to armchair quarterback . This , we're 24:32.766 --> 24:34.766 not on the ground , this is not our 24:34.766 --> 24:36.932 operation , but I think it's important 24:36.932 --> 24:39.099 that I reiterate here that in any of 24:39.109 --> 24:40.998 our conversations , we always are 24:40.998 --> 24:42.831 emphasizing the need to preserve 24:42.831 --> 24:44.887 innocent civilian lives , um , to be 24:44.887 --> 24:46.776 precise with any operation and of 24:46.776 --> 24:49.994 course , to uphold the laws of armed 24:50.005 --> 24:52.795 conflict , one follow up , can you give 24:52.814 --> 24:55.064 us any sense of how many unannounced 24:55.074 --> 24:57.435 counter strikes there have been since 24:57.444 --> 24:59.277 October 17th ? You mentioned the 24:59.277 --> 25:01.277 unannounced strikes , just any data 25:01.277 --> 25:03.444 around how many there have been ? Um , 25:03.444 --> 25:03.025 I'm happy to take that question . I 25:03.035 --> 25:05.146 just don't have that in front of me , 25:05.146 --> 25:07.313 but again , I just don't want there to 25:07.313 --> 25:10.910 be a focus on um , these particular , 25:11.089 --> 25:13.145 uh , self defense strikes because it 25:13.145 --> 25:16.300 happens again , if we can identify a 25:16.469 --> 25:18.469 point of origin in the moment we're 25:18.469 --> 25:20.580 going to take action because it is in 25:20.580 --> 25:22.858 self defense . Um And so I just wanted , 25:22.858 --> 25:24.913 I know Tara had asked about this but 25:24.913 --> 25:27.025 just trying to separate out the , the 25:27.025 --> 25:29.191 three , and I'm trying to remember the 25:29.191 --> 25:31.302 dates here , uh off the top of my top 25:31.302 --> 25:33.525 of my head , but the three strikes that 25:33.525 --> 25:32.800 we had announced , which was on the 25:32.810 --> 25:35.088 26th , the eighth and the 12th . Again , 25:35.088 --> 25:37.839 those were preplanned um in advance 25:37.849 --> 25:40.270 targeting specific facilities um and 25:40.280 --> 25:42.502 infrastructure that we know these I RGC 25:42.502 --> 25:46.130 affiliate uh militias use the , the 25:46.140 --> 25:48.307 kinetic action that you saw last night 25:48.307 --> 25:50.307 that the , the US military took was 25:50.307 --> 25:52.362 again in response to a direct attack 25:52.362 --> 25:54.584 happening on our base . And you pointed 25:54.584 --> 25:56.751 out that there have been 66 attacks by 25:56.751 --> 25:58.751 Iranian backed militia groups on us 25:58.751 --> 26:00.862 coalition forces since October 17th . 26:00.862 --> 26:02.862 Why aren't these us counter strikes 26:02.862 --> 26:05.140 working as a deterrent strategy ? Well , 26:05.140 --> 26:07.307 you know , I would push back on that . 26:07.307 --> 26:09.418 I know , I know 66 is a high number . 26:09.418 --> 26:11.362 But again , we have days sometimes 26:11.362 --> 26:13.529 where we don't have attacks . So is it 26:13.529 --> 26:15.696 like , would you say that the strategy 26:15.696 --> 26:17.918 is not working if one day goes by where 26:17.918 --> 26:19.973 there's not an attack on us forces ? 26:19.973 --> 26:22.084 I'm not saying that that's the way to 26:22.084 --> 26:21.670 caveat it . But what I am saying is 26:21.680 --> 26:24.469 that we're not seeing , we don't want 26:24.479 --> 26:27.959 to see this conflict widen out . Um We 26:28.040 --> 26:31.540 will respond when we feel at the time 26:31.550 --> 26:33.989 and place of our choosing that we need 26:34.000 --> 26:35.833 to respond . We have three times 26:35.833 --> 26:38.109 already . We did again last night . Um 26:38.640 --> 26:41.280 I , I wouldn't say that again . It's 26:41.290 --> 26:44.150 not working . Um I would say that we 26:44.160 --> 26:45.993 are being very deliberate in our 26:45.993 --> 26:49.239 strikes and what we target these groups 26:49.359 --> 26:52.489 while uh have , have inflicted some 26:52.500 --> 26:54.510 minor damage to infrastructure . Um 26:54.520 --> 26:56.640 Right now , we are seeing nonserious 26:56.650 --> 26:59.219 injuries , um minor damage to 26:59.229 --> 27:02.300 infrastructure in comparison to um 27:02.699 --> 27:04.921 weapons facilities being destroyed . Uh 27:04.921 --> 27:07.459 A command and control center node being 27:07.589 --> 27:10.109 leveled . Um And , and so again and , 27:10.119 --> 27:12.230 and , and another um I'm sorry , in a 27:12.230 --> 27:14.397 training facility also uh destroyed So 27:14.397 --> 27:16.730 again , if you look at this , the , the , 27:16.730 --> 27:20.599 um , the scope and the , the 27:20.609 --> 27:22.776 ability for us to respond , we've been 27:22.776 --> 27:24.887 very precise and have inflicted a lot 27:24.887 --> 27:27.949 of damage , Mike . Yeah , the army 27:27.959 --> 27:29.959 recently sent out a letter to about 27:29.959 --> 27:32.070 2000 soldiers who were discharged for 27:32.070 --> 27:34.292 their refusal to take the COVID vaccine 27:34.420 --> 27:37.189 that gives them the opportunity to , uh , 27:37.199 --> 27:39.300 come back into the military . Do you 27:39.310 --> 27:41.739 know if this is going to be done to the , 27:41.750 --> 27:44.290 you know , d dod wide or the other 27:44.300 --> 27:46.467 service is gonna do this as well ? I , 27:46.467 --> 27:48.689 I'm sorry , I haven't seen the letter . 27:48.689 --> 27:50.744 So I would refer you to the army for 27:50.744 --> 27:52.744 any more specifics on that . I just 27:52.744 --> 27:55.078 don't have more information on that . I , 27:55.078 --> 27:57.022 I just , I don't , I'm hesitant to 27:57.022 --> 27:56.270 comment just because I haven't seen the 27:56.280 --> 27:58.447 letter and the contents of it . So I'd 27:58.447 --> 28:00.447 refer you for more specifics to the 28:00.447 --> 28:02.949 army . Yeah . Erin . Yeah . Um going 28:02.959 --> 28:06.560 back to North Korea . Um so they have 28:06.569 --> 28:09.930 sent uh satellites that have gone into 28:09.939 --> 28:12.270 orbit in the past had , did this one 28:12.280 --> 28:15.209 enter the orbit ? I don't have uh more 28:15.219 --> 28:17.441 on that . I think that's something that 28:17.441 --> 28:19.386 we're still assessing . Yeah . All 28:19.386 --> 28:21.163 right , thanks Sabrina . Uh Two 28:21.163 --> 28:23.275 questions . One , both to clarify for 28:23.275 --> 28:25.569 me . Uh the , the kinetic action last 28:25.579 --> 28:27.939 night , the , the gunship was already 28:27.949 --> 28:31.119 in the air . OK . Thank you . And on 28:31.130 --> 28:33.979 what Mike was asking about the , uh the 28:33.989 --> 28:36.420 letter that may have gone out to others 28:36.430 --> 28:38.319 to get back . Service personnel . 28:38.319 --> 28:41.989 There's been reports uh that the 28:42.000 --> 28:45.910 uh action by the Pentagon was illegal 28:45.920 --> 28:48.869 because the COVID vaccine had not yet 28:48.880 --> 28:51.020 been approved by the FDA . Have you 28:51.030 --> 28:53.189 heard anything about this ? I'm , I'm 28:53.199 --> 28:56.010 sorry , I have not . Yeah . Yeah , 28:56.040 --> 28:58.262 thanks Sabrina . Just a quick follow up 28:58.262 --> 29:00.429 um on the North Korea satellite . Have 29:00.429 --> 29:02.484 you guys assessed uh specifically if 29:02.484 --> 29:04.818 it's a military satellite at this point ? 29:04.818 --> 29:07.040 No , all I have for you is that we know 29:07.040 --> 29:09.318 it is a space , a space launch vehicle . 29:09.318 --> 29:11.880 But uh that's all I have . Yeah . Yes , 29:12.609 --> 29:15.050 thanks Sabrina . Uh on the matter in 29:15.060 --> 29:18.310 Gaza . Uh of course , you know , the 29:18.319 --> 29:21.250 north , the whole Gaza Strip is one of 29:21.260 --> 29:23.969 the world's mo mostly densely populated 29:23.979 --> 29:26.500 areas . And with the people going 29:26.510 --> 29:29.719 southward , the population density is 29:29.729 --> 29:32.800 increased even more in the south . So I 29:32.810 --> 29:34.589 know you said like it's not our 29:34.599 --> 29:36.655 operation but it's your weapons that 29:36.655 --> 29:38.766 the Israeli government is or the army 29:38.766 --> 29:41.199 is using there . So the last week you 29:41.209 --> 29:43.880 said that even though you are providing 29:43.890 --> 29:47.189 these weapons with no restrictions , 29:47.339 --> 29:50.939 but still you are following . If any 29:50.989 --> 29:53.109 weapon given by the United States to 29:53.119 --> 29:55.660 any ally around the world should be 29:55.670 --> 29:58.339 used according to the international law 29:58.349 --> 30:01.489 and to uh look for the humanitarian 30:01.500 --> 30:04.699 issue as well . So in this uh frame , 30:04.709 --> 30:08.089 uh do you have any special uh contact 30:08.099 --> 30:10.680 with your Israeli counterparts ? And do 30:10.689 --> 30:14.199 you follow up uh to avoid any civilian 30:14.209 --> 30:16.770 casualties increase civilian casualties 30:16.780 --> 30:19.099 since the numbers are bigger than 30:19.109 --> 30:22.040 before in the south now . Yeah . So 30:22.050 --> 30:23.994 thanks for the question . Um , and 30:23.994 --> 30:25.994 there's , I think two in there . So 30:25.994 --> 30:28.106 just taking them apart . Um , again , 30:28.106 --> 30:30.599 with any partner or ally that we give 30:30.609 --> 30:33.640 or we supply our military weapons too , 30:33.650 --> 30:36.819 we expect them to follow the laws of 30:36.829 --> 30:39.060 armed conflict that we ourselves do as 30:39.069 --> 30:40.847 well . We expect them to uphold 30:40.847 --> 30:43.420 humanitarian laws . So when I think you 30:43.430 --> 30:45.708 were paraphrasing a bit of what I said , 30:45.729 --> 30:47.951 uh while we don't put conditions on how 30:47.951 --> 30:50.349 they are used , we do expect them to be 30:50.359 --> 30:52.780 used in accordance with how we would 30:52.790 --> 30:55.349 use them as well . Um And so they are , 30:55.359 --> 30:57.081 so I think that's an important 30:57.081 --> 30:59.081 distinction to make . Um And then I 30:59.081 --> 31:01.137 think your second question was on um 31:01.137 --> 31:03.520 the population and , and the potential 31:03.530 --> 31:05.474 operation that could happen in the 31:05.474 --> 31:07.641 South if I'm using these weapons there 31:07.641 --> 31:10.660 on a mo a higher density 31:10.670 --> 31:13.579 population in the South could create a 31:13.589 --> 31:17.079 bigger risk than before . So sorry . 31:17.089 --> 31:18.922 That , that's right . That's not 31:18.922 --> 31:20.867 something that we want to see . Of 31:20.867 --> 31:23.033 course , we want to see . Um , we know 31:23.033 --> 31:25.200 that there are innocent civilians that 31:25.200 --> 31:27.145 have moved from the north into the 31:27.145 --> 31:28.978 south of Gaza , seeking refuge , 31:28.978 --> 31:31.780 seeking um security . And so again , 31:31.790 --> 31:33.846 it's something that uh the secretary 31:33.846 --> 31:36.079 continues to speak with Minister Galan 31:36.089 --> 31:38.560 about um about the need to protect 31:38.569 --> 31:40.513 innocent civilians . And again , I 31:40.513 --> 31:42.625 don't want to get ahead of anything . 31:42.625 --> 31:44.736 We haven't seen an operation happen , 31:44.736 --> 31:46.902 uh , we haven't seen , um , you know , 31:46.902 --> 31:49.069 exactly what this could look like . So 31:49.069 --> 31:51.069 I think it's just , it's prudent to 31:51.069 --> 31:53.291 just , uh , to , you know , I , I don't 31:53.291 --> 31:55.458 want to speculate on any , on anything 31:55.458 --> 31:57.625 that could happen in the South , but I 31:57.625 --> 31:57.109 think it is important to remember that 31:57.119 --> 31:59.175 in all of our conversations with the 31:59.175 --> 32:00.786 Israelis , we are absolutely 32:00.786 --> 32:04.530 reiterating the need to uphold 32:04.640 --> 32:06.640 um humanitarian laws and the law of 32:06.640 --> 32:10.170 armed conflict , but the risk is there . 32:10.189 --> 32:12.869 So do you uh contact them before 32:12.880 --> 32:15.047 something happens or you're doing , we 32:15.047 --> 32:17.213 do not control and we are not embedded 32:17.213 --> 32:19.436 in their operations , but I think it is 32:19.436 --> 32:21.436 important and I know I've said this 32:21.436 --> 32:23.602 before , but I think it's important to 32:23.602 --> 32:25.713 remember that Hamas uses civilians as 32:25.713 --> 32:28.030 shields to conduct their own operations 32:28.040 --> 32:30.151 and to hide their command and control 32:30.151 --> 32:33.839 centers to hide ammunitions and weapons 32:33.849 --> 32:36.829 depots in highly populated civilian 32:36.839 --> 32:39.119 areas . So again , uh while we are 32:39.130 --> 32:41.074 going to continue to still have uh 32:41.074 --> 32:42.797 conversations with our Israeli 32:42.797 --> 32:45.599 counterparts about um the need to 32:45.609 --> 32:47.720 protect and preserve innocent lives , 32:47.720 --> 32:49.831 we can't forget that Hamas is putting 32:49.831 --> 32:51.998 innocent people at risk . Matt , thank 32:51.998 --> 32:54.109 you , Sabrina . Um On that ac 130 you 32:54.109 --> 32:56.220 said it was already in the air at the 32:56.220 --> 32:58.331 time ? Was that just by chance in the 32:58.331 --> 33:00.498 region or was it loitering in the area 33:00.498 --> 33:02.609 in anticipation of a potential attack 33:02.609 --> 33:04.553 from one of these groups Yeah . Uh 33:04.553 --> 33:04.510 Thanks Matt . So I'm not going to get 33:04.520 --> 33:06.631 into more specifics on why or when it 33:06.631 --> 33:08.798 was up in the air . All I can tell you 33:08.798 --> 33:11.020 is that it was already in the area . Um 33:11.020 --> 33:13.187 As a point of clarification , you said 33:13.187 --> 33:15.298 that it had eyes on those militants . 33:15.298 --> 33:17.520 Um Did you say that it was viewing them 33:17.520 --> 33:19.520 before the attack or saw the attack 33:19.520 --> 33:21.687 actually occur ? And if so was it in a 33:21.687 --> 33:23.798 position to perhaps prevented the the 33:23.798 --> 33:25.631 launch of that missile ? I don't 33:25.631 --> 33:27.742 believe it was in uh in a position to 33:27.742 --> 33:29.909 prevent uh I believe it was in the air 33:29.910 --> 33:32.229 and saw it happen in real time . Yeah . 33:32.569 --> 33:34.680 Uh Thank you . So , Juncker , we also 33:34.680 --> 33:36.680 said today that Iran is considering 33:36.680 --> 33:38.458 providing Russia with ballistic 33:38.458 --> 33:40.625 missiles for use in Ukraine . So would 33:40.625 --> 33:42.736 the US in partners consider providing 33:42.736 --> 33:44.958 Ukraine with more advanced capabilities 33:44.958 --> 33:47.125 to defend itself properly in this ? Uh 33:47.125 --> 33:49.119 Thanks for the question . Um I I'm 33:49.130 --> 33:51.630 aware that uh you know , we or we 33:51.640 --> 33:54.920 continue to be concerned that Iran 33:54.930 --> 33:58.719 could provide uh ballistic missiles to 33:58.729 --> 34:01.010 Russia for use within Ukraine . But we 34:01.020 --> 34:04.109 feel confident that , well , one , we 34:04.119 --> 34:06.400 haven't seen it happen yet . Um Two , 34:06.410 --> 34:08.899 we feel very confident in the aid and 34:08.909 --> 34:11.110 the capabilities we have been able to 34:11.120 --> 34:13.459 provide Ukraine to date . Um And you're 34:13.469 --> 34:15.729 seeing them make , employing them 34:15.739 --> 34:18.310 effectively on the battlefield . Um 34:18.320 --> 34:20.760 They are using uh whether it's our high 34:20.949 --> 34:23.060 mars , we just announced another Haar 34:23.060 --> 34:25.282 system that will , that was in the last 34:25.282 --> 34:27.449 package that the secretary announced , 34:27.449 --> 34:29.505 um they have , you know , tremendous 34:29.505 --> 34:31.505 air defense systems as well . So we 34:31.505 --> 34:33.505 feel very confident in what we have 34:33.505 --> 34:35.505 been able to supply Ukraine to make 34:35.519 --> 34:38.448 progress on the battlefield . So ABC 34:38.458 --> 34:40.569 reported today that the US deliveries 34:40.569 --> 34:42.519 of arterial shells to Ukraine have 34:42.529 --> 34:45.148 fallen by more than 30% since the 34:45.158 --> 34:47.158 Israel Hamas war begun according to 34:47.158 --> 34:49.047 Ukrainian official . So could you 34:49.047 --> 34:51.102 confirm that ? And if true , doesn't 34:51.102 --> 34:53.425 mean that Israel war does affect us , 34:53.735 --> 34:56.395 ability to sustain Ukraine's immediate 34:56.405 --> 34:58.572 needs on the battle field . I saw that 34:58.572 --> 35:00.683 story . Um Look , I I would push back 35:00.683 --> 35:02.794 on that assertion . We have been able 35:02.794 --> 35:06.185 to supply Ukraine with what it needs um 35:06.195 --> 35:08.195 during its counter offensive and we 35:08.195 --> 35:10.251 will continue to supply Ukraine with 35:10.251 --> 35:12.485 what it needs as it heads as uh as we 35:12.495 --> 35:15.405 head into winter . Um We are able to do 35:15.415 --> 35:18.659 that and we're able to support Israel 35:18.669 --> 35:21.199 and what it needs to defend itself . Um 35:21.209 --> 35:24.860 I in its war with Hamas , um We feel 35:24.870 --> 35:27.310 confident we can do both . Um And we're 35:27.320 --> 35:29.739 going to continue to do both , but let 35:29.750 --> 35:31.583 me just take this as a moment to 35:31.583 --> 35:35.209 reiterate that we need Congress's help . 35:35.330 --> 35:37.610 We cannot do this without congressional 35:37.620 --> 35:40.010 um uh or Congress passing the 35:40.020 --> 35:43.379 supplemental bill which we submitted uh 35:43.389 --> 35:45.500 months ago and that , you know , is a 35:45.500 --> 35:47.729 need for urgent emergency assistance . 35:47.739 --> 35:49.961 Um And that's not just for Ukraine . Um 35:49.961 --> 35:51.961 That's also for Israel for also the 35:51.961 --> 35:55.179 Indo Pacific . Um and so the only way 35:55.189 --> 35:57.411 that we can continue to support Ukraine 35:57.411 --> 36:00.179 is if also Congress passes that urgent 36:00.189 --> 36:02.411 supplemental that , that we requested . 36:02.411 --> 36:04.467 Yeah . Yeah , just a few more here . 36:04.467 --> 36:06.522 Yes . If I could just as a follow up 36:06.522 --> 36:08.578 question , the ac 130 strike in Iraq 36:08.578 --> 36:10.745 was the aircraft in the air because of 36:10.745 --> 36:12.856 any indications of a potential threat 36:12.856 --> 36:15.022 to us , personnel in the area . Yeah , 36:15.022 --> 36:14.949 I just , I appreciate the question but 36:14.959 --> 36:17.126 I just can't get into any more further 36:17.126 --> 36:20.379 details on that ruled out pre emptive 36:20.389 --> 36:22.611 strikes on Iran backed militias in Iraq 36:22.611 --> 36:24.611 in order to prevent or to defend us 36:24.611 --> 36:27.149 personnel . We have not taken anything 36:27.159 --> 36:29.270 off the table or ruled anything out . 36:29.270 --> 36:31.437 That's something that um is a decision 36:31.437 --> 36:33.492 that the secretary makes and , and , 36:33.492 --> 36:35.659 and recommends to the president who of 36:35.659 --> 36:37.889 course makes the ultimate decision . Um 36:38.370 --> 36:41.360 We have a range of options . Uh We know 36:41.370 --> 36:44.449 that of course these groups have uh 36:45.199 --> 36:47.419 targeted our forces in both Iraq and 36:47.429 --> 36:51.000 Syria . We feel right now that we have 36:51.010 --> 36:53.580 taken appropriate action to um 36:54.110 --> 36:56.300 decimate some of their facilities and 36:56.310 --> 36:59.739 some of their weapons . Um But again , 36:59.750 --> 37:01.917 we always reserve the right to respond 37:01.917 --> 37:03.917 at a time and place of our choosing 37:03.917 --> 37:06.028 last night by the US . That was not , 37:06.028 --> 37:08.139 that did not go all the way up to the 37:08.139 --> 37:08.129 White House for approval that was in 37:08.139 --> 37:10.306 direct response to attack happening on 37:10.306 --> 37:12.699 the base . So we saw , so as mentioned , 37:12.889 --> 37:16.419 the ac 130 did observed the attack and 37:16.429 --> 37:18.429 was able to take immediate action . 37:18.429 --> 37:20.318 That's something that at a , at a 37:20.318 --> 37:22.540 commander level , of course , if you're 37:22.540 --> 37:24.873 under attack and you're able to respond , 37:24.873 --> 37:26.985 that can , that's a decision that can 37:26.985 --> 37:29.096 be made at that level . Constantine . 37:29.096 --> 37:31.318 Um Just a quick follow up on the Ford . 37:31.318 --> 37:31.239 I mean , it looks like the ship is 37:31.250 --> 37:33.580 going to be on , will have been on 37:33.590 --> 37:35.646 deployment for about seven months at 37:35.646 --> 37:37.812 this point . Is there a maximum length 37:37.812 --> 37:39.923 of time that the secretary is willing 37:39.923 --> 37:41.701 to keep the Ford on station and 37:41.701 --> 37:43.868 deployed again ? I don't have anything 37:43.868 --> 37:46.090 for you on that right now . Um It's the 37:46.090 --> 37:45.780 secretary's decision . He will , he 37:45.790 --> 37:47.846 will make that uh when he determines 37:47.846 --> 37:49.846 that um , it's time for the Ford to 37:49.846 --> 37:52.270 come home . Um Right now she remains in 37:52.280 --> 37:54.613 the Eastern Med and will be there until , 37:54.613 --> 37:56.836 until he decides that she needs to come 37:56.836 --> 37:59.058 back . Ok , Janie , I can take one more 37:59.058 --> 38:01.280 and then I gotta , I gotta wrap up . Do 38:01.280 --> 38:03.179 you think uh nurse could I like 38:04.393 --> 38:07.653 launch is a violation of the UN 38:07.663 --> 38:10.683 Security Council resolution ? Yes . And 38:10.693 --> 38:12.804 the NSC I think I believe , put out a 38:12.804 --> 38:14.915 statement saying that as well . We've 38:14.915 --> 38:16.860 said that before from the podium , 38:16.860 --> 38:19.137 these launches again are destabilizing . 38:19.137 --> 38:20.971 They violate Un Security Council 38:20.971 --> 38:23.082 resolutions and I'll just leave it at 38:23.082 --> 38:25.304 that . But before I wrap , did you have 38:25.304 --> 38:27.415 a question . Ok , great . Um Before I 38:27.415 --> 38:29.582 wrap just two things , uh want to wish 38:29.582 --> 38:31.637 everyone a happy Thanksgiving . Um I 38:31.637 --> 38:33.804 know that uh it's been a , it's been a 38:33.804 --> 38:35.804 busy few weeks . And so , um I know 38:35.804 --> 38:37.971 this department is incredibly grateful 38:37.971 --> 38:39.915 for our service members uh serving 38:39.915 --> 38:42.082 abroad . Um Our civilians also serving 38:42.082 --> 38:44.249 abroad and their and their families as 38:44.249 --> 38:46.249 well . Um You know , thinking about 38:46.249 --> 38:48.360 them during this Thanksgiving holiday 38:48.360 --> 38:47.706 and I hope all of you have a great 38:47.716 --> 38:50.360 Thanksgiving . Um And then last note , 38:50.389 --> 38:52.889 um our chief of staff , Jess Kos Meter 38:52.899 --> 38:55.770 is leaving us . Um She will be going to 38:55.780 --> 38:59.219 the NSC . And so , uh it is uh very sad 38:59.229 --> 39:01.173 that we are seeing her leave , but 39:01.173 --> 39:03.229 she's off to , to big things and I'm 39:03.229 --> 39:05.285 sure you'll be working with her over 39:05.285 --> 39:05.580 there and with that , I will wrap up .