WEBVTT 00:00.519 --> 00:03.640 Ok . Hi , good afternoon . Sorry . 00:03.650 --> 00:05.980 We're a little delayed . Um Just a few 00:05.989 --> 00:08.800 things at the top and then I am happy 00:08.810 --> 00:11.340 to take your questions . Yesterday . 00:11.350 --> 00:13.461 Secretary Austin and his counterparts 00:13.461 --> 00:15.683 from the UK and Australia concluded the 00:15.683 --> 00:17.940 3rd August defense ministerial meeting 00:18.139 --> 00:20.500 in London . In a series of meetings , 00:20.510 --> 00:22.454 the leaders reviewed progress made 00:22.454 --> 00:24.566 under the enhanced security agreement 00:24.566 --> 00:26.788 over the last year and reaffirmed their 00:26.788 --> 00:28.899 commitment to the Aus Partnership for 00:28.899 --> 00:31.066 decades to come together . The leaders 00:31.066 --> 00:33.069 reasserted that Aus offers a unique 00:33.080 --> 00:35.247 generational opportunity for our three 00:35.247 --> 00:37.024 nations to enhance our military 00:37.024 --> 00:38.759 capability , deepen our inner 00:38.770 --> 00:40.990 operability and strengthen deterrence 00:41.000 --> 00:43.056 toward a shared vision of a free and 00:43.056 --> 00:45.750 open Indo Pacific . The Aus Defense 00:45.759 --> 00:47.592 Ministers meeting , communique , 00:47.592 --> 00:49.648 outlining the partnership's historic 00:49.648 --> 00:51.815 progress is available on defense.gov . 00:52.180 --> 00:54.180 Uh Switching gears , the department 00:54.180 --> 00:56.180 continues to monitor tropical storm 00:56.180 --> 00:58.291 Helene which made landfall in the big 00:58.291 --> 01:00.291 bend area of Florida overnight as a 01:00.291 --> 01:02.513 category four storm before weakening to 01:02.513 --> 01:05.220 a tropical storm to support response 01:05.230 --> 01:07.230 efforts . Secretary Austin approved 01:07.230 --> 01:09.397 separate requests from the Florida and 01:09.397 --> 01:11.341 Georgia National Guards for a dual 01:11.341 --> 01:13.563 status commander in each state . A dual 01:13.563 --> 01:15.730 status commander is a National Guard , 01:15.730 --> 01:17.619 regular army or regular Air force 01:17.619 --> 01:19.730 officer who is jointly managed by the 01:19.730 --> 01:22.059 Commander of us North com and the chief 01:22.069 --> 01:24.069 of the National Guard Bureau and is 01:24.069 --> 01:26.236 allowed by law to serve in federal and 01:26.236 --> 01:28.970 state statuses simultaneously . Florida 01:28.980 --> 01:32.449 has nearly 3900 guardsmen , 450 01:32.459 --> 01:35.250 tactical vehicles , 13 rotary wing 01:35.260 --> 01:37.220 assets and six boats conducting 01:37.230 --> 01:39.709 emergency response missions in 21 01:39.720 --> 01:42.360 counties around the state . North 01:42.370 --> 01:45.449 Carolina has 358 guardsmen activated . 01:45.730 --> 01:47.897 Georgia has more than 300 guardsmen on 01:47.897 --> 01:50.540 orders and Alabama has 43 guardsmen on 01:50.550 --> 01:52.760 orders and standing by and on the 01:52.769 --> 01:54.602 active duty side . North com has 01:54.602 --> 01:56.769 deployed a small team to Florida to be 01:56.769 --> 01:58.769 prepared to respond quickly to FEMA 01:58.769 --> 02:00.991 requests for assistance . As you know , 02:00.991 --> 02:03.158 this is a rapidly evolving situation . 02:03.158 --> 02:05.102 The department remains prepared to 02:05.102 --> 02:07.213 support response efforts as necessary 02:07.213 --> 02:09.325 and for for and for further questions 02:09.325 --> 02:11.547 about National Guard missions . I would 02:11.547 --> 02:13.491 direct you to contact the specific 02:13.491 --> 02:15.436 states in question for active duty 02:15.436 --> 02:17.602 support efforts to F ma please contact 02:17.602 --> 02:19.602 us Northern Command and for service 02:19.602 --> 02:21.825 specific evacuation efforts . It's best 02:21.825 --> 02:24.339 to contact the services directly . And 02:24.350 --> 02:26.500 last I know you're seeing reports 02:26.509 --> 02:28.620 circulate about a strike in Lebanon . 02:28.699 --> 02:31.000 Secretary Austin spoke by phone earlier 02:31.009 --> 02:32.953 today to his Israeli counterpart , 02:32.953 --> 02:35.490 Minister Galant . The United States was 02:35.500 --> 02:37.669 not involved in this operation and we 02:37.679 --> 02:40.050 had no advanced warning . Minister 02:40.059 --> 02:42.226 Gallant spoke with Secretary Austin as 02:42.226 --> 02:44.281 the operation was already underway . 02:44.399 --> 02:46.343 This operation happened , happened 02:46.343 --> 02:48.288 within the last few hours . We are 02:48.288 --> 02:50.288 still assessing the event and don't 02:50.288 --> 02:52.455 have any additional information or any 02:52.455 --> 02:54.510 further specifics to provide at this 02:54.510 --> 02:56.677 time . But with that , I'd be happy to 02:56.677 --> 02:56.639 take your questions . I don't see A P 02:56.649 --> 02:58.871 in the room . I'm gonna go to the phone 02:58.871 --> 03:00.982 and then happy to come back . Uh Lita 03:00.982 --> 03:03.205 Baldor A P . Hi , thanks Sabrina . Um A 03:03.205 --> 03:06.559 couple of questions um on a rock . Will 03:06.570 --> 03:10.149 all of the troops that are currently 03:10.160 --> 03:13.250 um at Baghdad and Assad be 03:13.259 --> 03:17.050 transferred to Erbil or will some come 03:17.059 --> 03:20.779 home initially ? And if so , can you 03:20.789 --> 03:22.789 give a rough estimate of the number 03:22.789 --> 03:25.011 that will actually depart the country ? 03:25.050 --> 03:28.470 And then secondly , in as this 03:28.479 --> 03:31.860 evolves and the US post troops out of 03:31.869 --> 03:35.000 those areas , do you expect there will 03:35.009 --> 03:38.729 still be 2500 troops in Iraq at the end 03:38.740 --> 03:42.279 of this or what is the Pentagon's rough 03:42.289 --> 03:44.559 estimate right now as to the number 03:44.570 --> 03:47.089 that will remain in the country ? Uh 03:47.100 --> 03:49.539 Thanks Lida for the question . So um in 03:49.550 --> 03:52.119 terms of uh an announcement , I think 03:52.130 --> 03:54.297 we'll have more to share later today . 03:54.297 --> 03:57.889 Um As you know , the global coalition 03:58.000 --> 04:00.779 under um combined joint task force 04:00.789 --> 04:03.110 operation inherent resolve that mission 04:03.119 --> 04:05.440 is changing from the global coalition 04:05.449 --> 04:07.979 to a bilateral security partnership 04:07.990 --> 04:11.080 with uh the Iraqi government . Um I 04:11.089 --> 04:13.660 don't have , you know , numbers to read 04:13.669 --> 04:15.839 out and locations to share with you . 04:15.929 --> 04:19.390 Um But I think it's fair to say that um 04:19.410 --> 04:21.632 you know , our , our footprint is gonna 04:21.632 --> 04:23.854 be changing uh within the country . But 04:23.854 --> 04:26.021 um for more specifics , you know , I'm 04:26.021 --> 04:28.077 just not going to be able to go into 04:28.077 --> 04:30.299 those details at this time . Um I think 04:30.299 --> 04:32.521 we all have more to share later today , 04:32.521 --> 04:34.688 but um from here I just , I don't have 04:34.688 --> 04:34.570 any more specifics to add . Uh I'll 04:34.579 --> 04:36.899 come in the room , Phil . Um Thanks . I 04:36.910 --> 04:38.521 know you don't have a lot of 04:38.521 --> 04:40.632 information about these strikes , but 04:40.632 --> 04:42.799 it's a quite an event . And uh can you 04:42.799 --> 04:44.743 give us any sense ? First of all , 04:44.743 --> 04:46.632 whether , you know , if Hezbollah 04:46.632 --> 04:48.854 Hezbollah leader Nasrallah is alive , I 04:48.854 --> 04:50.743 don't have any information on the 04:50.743 --> 04:52.854 strike itself . We're still gathering 04:52.854 --> 04:55.077 information as this just happened a few 04:55.077 --> 04:57.132 hours ago . So I can't , I , I would 04:57.132 --> 04:59.132 refer you , you know , to others to 04:59.132 --> 05:01.188 speak to this operation . I , I just 05:01.188 --> 05:00.859 don't have any more . Ok . And , and , 05:00.869 --> 05:03.036 and you know , since the United States 05:03.036 --> 05:05.760 is pursuing cease fire , cease fire , 05:05.970 --> 05:08.137 you know , what was Secretary Austin's 05:08.137 --> 05:11.299 reaction to , to this uh uh news as he 05:11.309 --> 05:13.476 learned of it ? And , and what was the 05:13.476 --> 05:15.531 discussion like with his , his , his 05:15.531 --> 05:17.809 Israeli counterpart as it was going on ? 05:17.809 --> 05:19.642 Well , I think , you know , as I 05:19.642 --> 05:21.698 mentioned in the top , the secretary 05:21.698 --> 05:23.865 was , well , first I would say that we 05:23.865 --> 05:25.976 were not given an advanced warning of 05:25.976 --> 05:27.920 this operation . Um You know , the 05:27.920 --> 05:30.031 secretary spoke with Minister Gallant 05:30.031 --> 05:32.365 when the operation was already underway . 05:32.369 --> 05:34.660 Um having no involvement and having no 05:34.670 --> 05:36.837 knowledge that the strike was actually 05:36.837 --> 05:39.279 going to occur . Um We're still pulling 05:39.290 --> 05:41.012 for more details and trying to 05:41.012 --> 05:43.850 understand um the operation itself . Um , 05:44.160 --> 05:46.104 in terms of their conversation , I 05:46.104 --> 05:48.438 think you've heard me say it , you know , 05:48.438 --> 05:50.549 these are pretty direct conversations 05:50.549 --> 05:52.771 that he has with Minister Galan . Um He 05:52.771 --> 05:52.600 has them frequently , you know , 05:52.609 --> 05:54.942 sometimes multiple calls during the day , 05:54.942 --> 05:58.320 um , sometimes almost every day . Um , 05:58.820 --> 06:00.876 you know , I'm not going to get into 06:00.876 --> 06:03.098 further details of the call , but I can 06:03.098 --> 06:05.209 tell you that , you know , other than 06:05.209 --> 06:07.320 having no knowledge or no involvement 06:07.320 --> 06:09.542 of this strike . Um The United States , 06:09.542 --> 06:11.264 you saw announcements from the 06:11.264 --> 06:13.209 president um and , and other world 06:13.209 --> 06:15.264 leaders , we're going to continue to 06:15.264 --> 06:17.431 urge for a diplomatic solution . Um We 06:17.431 --> 06:19.376 want to see um you know , tensions 06:19.376 --> 06:21.542 quell in the region and so we're going 06:21.542 --> 06:23.876 to continue to push on that front . Did , 06:23.876 --> 06:25.876 did his Israeli counterpart confirm 06:25.876 --> 06:27.987 that that Nasrallah was the target of 06:27.987 --> 06:30.098 the strike . I'm not going to go into 06:30.098 --> 06:30.049 more details other than what I read out 06:30.059 --> 06:32.630 at the top of the , at the top of my 06:32.640 --> 06:35.390 remarks . Natasha , thanks Brina , how 06:35.399 --> 06:37.455 concerned is the secretary that this 06:37.455 --> 06:39.621 latest strike on Beirut which appeared 06:39.621 --> 06:41.399 to target Nasrallah is going to 06:41.399 --> 06:43.989 precipitate Iran's involvement now in a 06:44.035 --> 06:47.614 broader war and also has any 06:47.625 --> 06:50.075 um have any plans for a non combatant 06:50.084 --> 06:52.195 evacuation operation now been sped up 06:52.195 --> 06:54.306 in light of these events . So I think 06:54.306 --> 06:56.251 that remains to be seen . Um We're 06:56.251 --> 06:58.584 still gathering information as you know , 06:58.584 --> 07:00.806 it just happened a few hours ago . So , 07:00.806 --> 07:03.028 um you know , we're still assessing and 07:03.028 --> 07:05.251 you know , when we have more details to 07:05.251 --> 07:07.417 share , if we , if we can , we will um 07:07.417 --> 07:09.473 in terms of , you know , any type of 07:09.473 --> 07:12.119 evacuation . Um and I know you've heard 07:12.130 --> 07:14.408 me say it here before , but , you know , 07:14.408 --> 07:16.686 we plan for all types of contingencies . 07:16.686 --> 07:19.720 Um We are a planning organization . Um 07:19.730 --> 07:22.063 We have assets in the region to support , 07:22.063 --> 07:24.920 you know , any type of event . Um 07:25.790 --> 07:27.846 should we need to at this time ? I'm 07:27.846 --> 07:30.068 just , I don't have any more details to 07:30.068 --> 07:32.750 provide . Well , um so the , the 07:32.760 --> 07:34.982 Houthis claim today that they carry out 07:34.982 --> 07:36.704 an attack with about two dozen 07:36.704 --> 07:38.927 ballistic missiles and drones targeting 07:38.927 --> 07:41.260 three destroyers and that they hit them . 07:41.260 --> 07:43.316 Um Do you have any information about 07:43.316 --> 07:43.019 that ? Especially whether any ships US 07:43.029 --> 07:45.140 ships were damaged in that uh in that 07:45.140 --> 07:47.140 incident , I can confirm that no US 07:47.140 --> 07:49.299 ships were damaged or hit . Um There 07:49.309 --> 07:53.149 was no injuries to U personnel . Um We 07:53.160 --> 07:55.970 did see a complex attack launched from 07:55.980 --> 07:59.290 the Houthis that range from um you know , 07:59.299 --> 08:02.880 cruise missiles and UAVS . Um My 08:02.890 --> 08:05.112 understanding is that those were either 08:05.112 --> 08:07.279 engaged and shot down or , or failed . 08:07.279 --> 08:09.950 Um but at no time , did you know any 08:09.959 --> 08:12.589 hit a US ship ? Is it the US assessment 08:12.600 --> 08:14.600 that , that these , the US warships 08:14.600 --> 08:16.767 were the target of that attack or , or 08:16.767 --> 08:18.656 were they other vessels that were 08:18.656 --> 08:20.711 potentially ? Sometimes it's hard to 08:20.711 --> 08:22.878 tell whether they're being shot in the 08:22.878 --> 08:24.822 vicinity of a US ship or targeting 08:24.822 --> 08:26.767 another vessel . Um We always take 08:26.767 --> 08:28.822 measures for our self defense . So I 08:28.822 --> 08:30.767 can't really tell you the intended 08:30.767 --> 08:32.767 target other than to say that , you 08:32.767 --> 08:34.822 know , I'd refer you to refer you to 08:34.822 --> 08:36.989 the houthis , but , um , you know , we 08:36.989 --> 08:39.100 did what we had to do to , to protect 08:39.100 --> 08:41.267 our forces and at the end of the day , 08:41.267 --> 08:44.010 no ship was hit , no damage um and no 08:44.020 --> 08:47.340 injuries to our personnel . So you 08:47.349 --> 08:49.405 clearly said that you were not given 08:49.405 --> 08:53.020 any um prior um notification about this . 08:53.030 --> 08:56.380 However , um the phone call took place 08:56.390 --> 08:58.969 while this operation was underway . So 08:58.979 --> 09:01.580 during that phone call , did Mr Gallant 09:01.590 --> 09:03.659 inform uh Secretary Austin about the 09:03.669 --> 09:05.891 operation ? Yes . So I'm just not gonna 09:05.891 --> 09:08.058 get into more details of the call Fadi 09:08.058 --> 09:10.700 what I can tell you is exactly what I I 09:10.710 --> 09:12.932 said at the beginning , which you can , 09:12.932 --> 09:15.099 you know , take inferences from that . 09:15.099 --> 09:17.099 But Mr Gallant spoke with Secretary 09:17.099 --> 09:19.154 Austin as this operation was already 09:19.154 --> 09:21.377 underway again . It happened within the 09:21.377 --> 09:23.599 last few hours . So we're trying to get 09:23.599 --> 09:25.766 more details . And um I , I believe on 09:25.766 --> 09:27.877 Wednesday , you said you haven't seen 09:27.877 --> 09:29.654 any indication that there's any 09:29.654 --> 09:31.770 imminent uh Israeli incursion into 09:31.780 --> 09:34.049 Lebanon . However , today the Israelis 09:34.059 --> 09:35.837 announced the ID F that they're 09:35.837 --> 09:38.750 mobilizing two of their brigades in the 09:38.760 --> 09:42.070 North . Um does this , um , 09:42.080 --> 09:45.190 recent activity change your assessment 09:45.200 --> 09:47.422 of the situation on the northern border 09:47.422 --> 09:50.030 of Israel and whether they're , um , 09:50.440 --> 09:53.309 preparing for an invasion somewhat to 09:53.320 --> 09:55.979 Natasha's , uh question . Um , we're 09:55.989 --> 09:58.156 still assessing and that remains to be 09:58.156 --> 10:00.349 seen . Um , we certainly don't think , 10:00.359 --> 10:03.419 uh , a , a ground incursion is , um , 10:03.630 --> 10:05.908 you know , the right path forward . Um , 10:05.908 --> 10:08.074 that's something that , you know , the 10:08.074 --> 10:10.186 secretary has been pretty clear about 10:10.186 --> 10:12.408 in his calls . Um , And you know , what 10:12.408 --> 10:14.599 we don't want to see is , is a wider 10:14.609 --> 10:16.720 regional conflict . And so that's why 10:16.720 --> 10:18.609 you've seen , you know , from the 10:18.609 --> 10:20.942 president's level to the secretary , um , 10:20.942 --> 10:23.165 the continuing engagement for diplomacy 10:23.165 --> 10:25.220 and we believe diplomacy is the best 10:25.220 --> 10:27.419 pattern finally if I might . Um , you 10:27.429 --> 10:29.539 know , I'm , I'm sure you guys were 10:29.549 --> 10:31.809 following Mr Netanyahu's speech from 10:31.820 --> 10:35.179 the UN . Um , during the anger , was 10:35.190 --> 10:38.840 that a speech that gave you hope 10:38.849 --> 10:41.460 that the diplomatic solution can 10:41.469 --> 10:44.590 succeed ? And the Israelis are open to 10:44.599 --> 10:47.000 a diplomatic solution . I think every 10:47.010 --> 10:49.177 time that we engage the Israelis , you 10:49.177 --> 10:52.409 know , we um have a good and direct 10:52.419 --> 10:54.252 conversation with them . I think 10:54.252 --> 10:56.197 diplomacy is not off the table . I 10:56.197 --> 10:58.640 think everyone wants to see um this 10:58.650 --> 11:00.872 resolved and the way it is going to get 11:00.872 --> 11:03.206 resolved is through diplomatic channels . 11:03.206 --> 11:05.372 So we're going to continue to push for 11:05.372 --> 11:05.330 that . I'm gonna go to the phones and 11:05.340 --> 11:07.451 then I'll come back in the room . I , 11:07.451 --> 11:10.239 sorry . Uh Charlie , uh Carla Ba be 11:10.250 --> 11:12.929 away . Hey , Sabrina , thanks for doing 11:12.940 --> 11:15.051 this . Um Just to follow up with what 11:15.051 --> 11:17.107 you told Lida on Iraq , you said the 11:17.107 --> 11:19.340 footprint was changing . Is the US 11:19.349 --> 11:22.260 withdrawing from Iraq ? If your answer 11:22.270 --> 11:24.437 is that the US is not withdrawing from 11:24.437 --> 11:26.659 Iraq , can you at least tell us how the 11:26.659 --> 11:28.714 footprint is changing , whether it's 11:28.714 --> 11:30.992 increasing or decreasing troop numbers . 11:30.992 --> 11:33.103 And then finally , just how important 11:33.103 --> 11:35.500 is the Iraqi partnership with us 11:35.510 --> 11:38.849 military right now ? Thanks Carla . Um 11:38.859 --> 11:40.859 So , no , the US is not withdrawing 11:40.859 --> 11:42.915 from Iraq . Nope , I cannot get into 11:42.915 --> 11:44.692 more details on what that front 11:44.692 --> 11:47.026 footprint is gonna look like . Um Again , 11:47.026 --> 11:49.248 as I mentioned , uh when lead asked her 11:49.248 --> 11:51.470 a question as well , I think we'll have 11:51.470 --> 11:53.692 more details to share later today . But 11:53.692 --> 11:55.859 I'm just not gonna get into uh details 11:55.859 --> 11:58.081 from the podium right now . Um in terms 11:58.081 --> 12:00.192 of our relationship with uh the Iraqi 12:00.192 --> 12:01.859 security forces and the Iraqi 12:01.859 --> 12:04.026 government , um it's a crucial one and 12:04.026 --> 12:06.137 it's one that we certainly value . We 12:06.137 --> 12:08.192 are in Iraq at the invitation of the 12:08.192 --> 12:10.450 Iraqi government and our partnership 12:10.460 --> 12:12.929 has led to the success of diminishing 12:12.940 --> 12:15.599 ISIS from what it was 10 years ago to 12:15.609 --> 12:18.349 where it is today . Um The , the 12:18.359 --> 12:20.359 strongholds that they had in Iraq , 12:20.359 --> 12:22.415 they don't have those anymore or not 12:22.415 --> 12:24.581 what they used to . Um So we certainly 12:24.581 --> 12:26.692 value the partnership that we had and 12:26.692 --> 12:28.470 continue to have with the Iraqi 12:28.470 --> 12:31.349 government . Um And this is a step in , 12:31.359 --> 12:33.303 in our relationship and a progress 12:33.303 --> 12:36.549 towards a bilateral security agreement . 12:36.559 --> 12:38.448 And um you know , we'll have more 12:38.448 --> 12:40.615 details to share when we're ready . Um 12:40.615 --> 12:42.781 I'm gonna go to the next question , uh 12:42.781 --> 12:44.892 Jeff Shog task and purpose . Uh Thank 12:44.892 --> 12:47.669 you whether or not uh Hassan Nasrallah 12:47.679 --> 12:50.010 is alive or dead . The situation in the 12:50.020 --> 12:53.390 Middle East has escalated is the 12:53.400 --> 12:55.710 defense department sending any more 12:55.719 --> 12:58.979 troops , aircraft , uh other assets to 12:58.989 --> 13:02.099 the region . And uh before you had 13:02.109 --> 13:04.276 announced that a small number , excuse 13:04.276 --> 13:06.276 me , the Pentagon announced a small 13:06.276 --> 13:08.331 number of troops had deployed to the 13:08.331 --> 13:10.553 region . Is there any information about 13:10.553 --> 13:12.665 how many , what units and what type , 13:12.665 --> 13:14.442 for example , these air defense 13:14.442 --> 13:16.849 batteries or are these troops preparing 13:16.859 --> 13:18.970 for a possible Neo of Lebanon ? Thank 13:18.970 --> 13:21.192 you . Thanks Jeff for the question . So 13:21.192 --> 13:22.915 no force posture changes to an 13:22.915 --> 13:25.137 announcer at this time . Um In terms of 13:25.137 --> 13:28.419 that small uh contingency that we've , 13:28.429 --> 13:30.429 you know , sent forward . Um I just 13:30.429 --> 13:32.540 don't have more details to provide at 13:32.540 --> 13:34.318 this time . Um Again , we are a 13:34.318 --> 13:36.429 planning organization , we plan for a 13:36.429 --> 13:38.510 wider range of different events that 13:38.520 --> 13:40.690 could occur . Uh But I just don't have 13:40.700 --> 13:42.756 uh I'm just not gonna be able to get 13:42.756 --> 13:45.089 into more specifics from here , Charlie , 13:45.089 --> 13:47.256 uh Serena . Thank you . I just want to 13:47.256 --> 13:49.200 drill down on the timing of the uh 13:49.200 --> 13:51.367 Austin Gallant phone call . You said a 13:51.367 --> 13:53.256 couple of times already while the 13:53.256 --> 13:55.609 operation was underway . This wasn't 13:55.619 --> 13:58.190 done before the operation had begun . 13:58.440 --> 14:01.260 So as it was underway is when they 14:01.270 --> 14:04.940 spoke , but they didn't discuss that , 14:04.950 --> 14:06.950 that that in itself doesn't suggest 14:06.950 --> 14:08.728 advanced warning . So as it was 14:08.728 --> 14:10.950 happening , he may have informed me , I 14:10.950 --> 14:13.061 believe I said we did not receive any 14:13.061 --> 14:15.283 advanced warning . So that is correct . 14:15.283 --> 14:17.617 We did not receive any advanced warning , 14:17.617 --> 14:17.469 but it stands to reason if they're in 14:17.479 --> 14:19.535 the middle of a phone conversation . 14:19.535 --> 14:21.646 They might say it's this is happening 14:21.646 --> 14:23.757 now that that may not be in advance , 14:23.757 --> 14:26.429 but it is underway . Yeah , as you can 14:26.440 --> 14:28.607 appreciate , I'm just not going to get 14:28.607 --> 14:30.829 into further details of the call . What 14:30.829 --> 14:32.884 I can tell you is the operation that 14:32.884 --> 14:34.718 you're seeing , you know , being 14:34.718 --> 14:38.109 reported uh was underway when uh the 14:38.119 --> 14:40.286 secretary and Minister Gallant spoke , 14:40.286 --> 14:42.452 we were not involved in this operation 14:42.452 --> 14:44.563 and again , we had no advance warning 14:44.563 --> 14:46.897 of the operation . Galant called Austin . 14:47.119 --> 14:49.049 They , I mean , the calls were 14:49.059 --> 14:51.115 connected . I'm not going to go into 14:51.115 --> 14:53.059 the details on , on how we connect 14:53.059 --> 14:55.337 those calls , Charlie , but yes , they , 14:55.337 --> 14:57.559 they had agreed to speak and that those 14:57.559 --> 14:59.837 calls were connected . And as you know , 14:59.837 --> 14:59.380 the secretary is traveling back from 14:59.390 --> 15:01.612 London right now . So he took that call 15:01.612 --> 15:03.575 and wrote , forgive me . It's like 15:03.585 --> 15:05.585 we're splitting hairs here . But if 15:05.585 --> 15:07.307 he's , if , if , if one person 15:07.307 --> 15:09.307 initiated the call and said this is 15:09.307 --> 15:11.196 underway , that that in itself is 15:11.196 --> 15:13.307 inherently an advanced warning , even 15:13.307 --> 15:12.734 if it's already happening , it's not a 15:12.744 --> 15:14.695 two minute warning but it's a 12th 15:14.705 --> 15:16.649 warning . I think we are splitting 15:16.649 --> 15:18.872 hairs because I would not consider that 15:18.872 --> 15:20.927 an advance warning when something is 15:20.927 --> 15:23.038 already underway . Um I'll go back to 15:23.038 --> 15:22.505 the phone and then happy to come back 15:22.515 --> 15:24.626 in the room . Uh Chris Gordon Air and 15:24.626 --> 15:27.549 Space . Uh Thanks Sabrina . Uh The US 15:27.559 --> 15:29.739 announced this week that the US will 15:29.750 --> 15:33.070 help train uh 18 Ukrainian F-16 pilots 15:33.080 --> 15:35.669 next year . Um Can you provide a little 15:35.679 --> 15:37.735 more fidelity on that announcement ? 15:37.735 --> 15:39.950 Will these 18 pilots all be trained in 15:39.960 --> 15:43.020 Arizona ? And relatedly , uh the dod 15:43.030 --> 15:45.400 previously said it planned to train uh 15:45.409 --> 15:48.510 12 Ukrainian F-16 pilots in fiscal 15:48.520 --> 15:51.349 2024 . Uh We're now just a couple of 15:51.359 --> 15:53.526 days out from the end of that . So has 15:53.526 --> 15:55.581 the US met that previously announced 15:55.581 --> 15:58.770 goal of training uh 12 F-16 pilots in 15:58.780 --> 16:00.891 the US this fiscal year ? Thank you . 16:00.960 --> 16:03.127 Yeah , thanks Chris for the question . 16:03.127 --> 16:05.182 Um in terms of the announcement , um 16:05.182 --> 16:07.293 and where they'll be trained , uh you 16:07.293 --> 16:09.404 know , I just don't have that for you 16:09.404 --> 16:11.404 right now . Um We continue to train 16:11.409 --> 16:14.489 Ukrainian pilots um that either come to 16:14.500 --> 16:16.556 the United States or through the Air 16:16.556 --> 16:18.830 Mobility Coalition uh with our partners 16:18.840 --> 16:21.520 in different parts of the world . Um As 16:21.530 --> 16:23.586 you know , these pilots have to meet 16:23.586 --> 16:26.090 certain metrics which include um you 16:26.099 --> 16:28.043 know , being proficient in English 16:28.043 --> 16:30.210 language . So , uh we're continuing to 16:30.210 --> 16:32.321 work with the Ukrainians . Um This is 16:32.321 --> 16:34.377 something that we know is a priority 16:34.377 --> 16:36.655 for them . It's a priority for us . Um , 16:36.655 --> 16:38.821 and we're continuing to work with them 16:38.821 --> 16:40.988 to make sure that their pilots get the 16:40.988 --> 16:40.799 training that they need so that when 16:40.809 --> 16:43.031 they return to Ukraine , they can be as 16:43.031 --> 16:45.309 effective as needed on the battlefield . 16:45.309 --> 16:47.309 Um , I'll take uh two more from the 16:47.309 --> 16:47.260 phone and then happy to come into the 16:47.270 --> 16:49.492 room . Uh , Jared Zuba , I'll monitor . 16:50.559 --> 16:52.670 Hi , Sabrina . I think , uh , I think 16:52.670 --> 16:54.670 Charlie might have asked this , but 16:54.670 --> 16:56.781 just to be clear , um do you know who 16:56.781 --> 16:56.500 initiated the call ? Was it uh 16:56.510 --> 16:58.780 prescheduled ? Was it the secretary 16:58.789 --> 17:00.900 reaching out to uh Defense Minister 17:00.909 --> 17:03.076 Galant ? How did that work ? Uh Yeah . 17:03.076 --> 17:05.670 So Jared and Charlie , I as , as I , as 17:05.680 --> 17:07.902 much as I appreciate the questions , um 17:08.089 --> 17:10.033 the secretary and Mr Gallant speak 17:10.040 --> 17:12.339 pretty regularly . Uh It's initiated on 17:12.349 --> 17:14.238 both sides to have these types of 17:14.238 --> 17:16.349 conversations . I'm just not gonna go 17:16.349 --> 17:18.516 into like who initiated what when um I 17:18.516 --> 17:20.627 can tell you from what I already said 17:20.627 --> 17:22.910 uh previously , which I know , um you 17:22.920 --> 17:25.031 know , led to the bit of splitting of 17:25.031 --> 17:27.920 hairs here . But again , when the 17:27.930 --> 17:30.097 secretary spoke with Mr Gallant , this 17:30.097 --> 17:32.430 operation was already underway . Um We 17:32.439 --> 17:34.606 had had no advance warning of this and 17:34.606 --> 17:36.772 of course we were not involved in this 17:36.772 --> 17:38.883 operation . Um All right , taking one 17:38.883 --> 17:40.995 more from the phone and then happy to 17:40.995 --> 17:43.106 come back in the room . Uh Mike Glenn 17:43.106 --> 17:44.995 Washington Times . Hi , Sabrina . 17:44.995 --> 17:44.939 Thanks a lot . Uh I agree . With you 17:44.949 --> 17:47.005 that , that a phone call at the time 17:47.005 --> 17:49.060 should not be considered an advanced 17:49.060 --> 17:51.282 warning . Goes in on my question if the 17:51.282 --> 17:53.393 fact that the Pentagon once again had 17:53.393 --> 17:55.338 no advance warning of this Israeli 17:55.338 --> 17:57.505 strike and only learned about it , you 17:57.505 --> 17:59.727 know , at the time , does that indicate 17:59.727 --> 18:01.671 that the Israeli government simply 18:01.671 --> 18:03.782 doesn't trust this administration and 18:03.782 --> 18:05.949 thinks it'll trade would have tried to 18:05.949 --> 18:08.171 interfere with their operation . Yeah , 18:08.171 --> 18:10.338 Mike , I , I would push back on that . 18:10.338 --> 18:10.239 I , I don't think that is the case . I 18:10.250 --> 18:12.660 think that's an unfair characterization . 18:12.920 --> 18:15.500 Um , you know , trust is certainly 18:15.510 --> 18:17.619 built but , uh , look at just the 18:17.630 --> 18:19.574 engagements that the Secretary and 18:19.574 --> 18:21.797 Minister Gallant have had um , over the 18:21.797 --> 18:23.660 last two weeks . Um , speaking 18:23.670 --> 18:26.680 regularly , I think if uh there was any 18:26.689 --> 18:29.109 type of , um , you know , fracture and 18:29.119 --> 18:31.119 trust , uh , you wouldn't see those 18:31.119 --> 18:33.341 type of levels of calls and engagements 18:33.341 --> 18:35.589 occurring frequently and not just at 18:35.599 --> 18:37.655 the secretary's level , but you're , 18:37.655 --> 18:39.655 you know , there's other components 18:39.655 --> 18:41.655 across the administration regularly 18:41.655 --> 18:43.210 engaging with their Israeli 18:43.210 --> 18:45.321 counterparts . So I'd , I'd push back 18:45.321 --> 18:47.432 on that characterization . Um , and , 18:47.432 --> 18:49.543 you know , I think you can expect the 18:49.543 --> 18:49.540 secretary to continue to engage 18:49.550 --> 18:51.717 Minister Galant , um , in the future . 18:51.717 --> 18:53.828 All right , coming back in the room , 18:53.828 --> 18:56.050 I'm gonna go over here and then , yes , 18:56.050 --> 18:58.272 the secretary just called on both sides 18:58.272 --> 19:00.494 to not escalate the situation . Is this 19:00.494 --> 19:02.494 an escalation ? Yeah . Again , we , 19:02.494 --> 19:04.606 that remains to be seen . We're still 19:04.606 --> 19:06.661 assessing six apartment buildings in 19:06.661 --> 19:08.661 the southern suburbs of Beirut have 19:08.661 --> 19:10.661 been leveled . That's not you , you 19:10.661 --> 19:10.010 have to assess whether that's an 19:10.020 --> 19:12.359 escalation . You're telling me that I 19:12.369 --> 19:14.647 do not know that to be true . So again , 19:14.647 --> 19:16.813 we are still assessing the situation . 19:16.813 --> 19:19.036 Uh We are going to continue to have our 19:19.036 --> 19:20.813 calls with our , you know , the 19:20.813 --> 19:22.660 Israelis to get more details . I 19:22.670 --> 19:24.726 appreciate the question . I hope you 19:24.726 --> 19:26.781 would also appreciate that this just 19:26.781 --> 19:28.948 happened a few hours ago . So yes , we 19:28.948 --> 19:31.114 are still doing an assessment . Rio um 19:31.170 --> 19:33.250 Japan's ruling party ODP selected a 19:33.260 --> 19:35.371 former defense minister Ishiba as the 19:35.371 --> 19:37.482 next prime minister . So first , what 19:37.482 --> 19:39.489 would be the dod s reactions to the 19:39.500 --> 19:42.290 election ? And secondly , Ishiba has 19:42.300 --> 19:45.130 proposed ideas such as reviewing the US 19:45.140 --> 19:47.979 Japan Agreement on the stages of forces . 19:47.989 --> 19:50.060 So what would be the US reactions to 19:50.069 --> 19:52.069 such promo ? Look , we have a great 19:52.069 --> 19:55.020 relationship with Japan . Um The 19:55.030 --> 19:56.808 secretary was , you know , just 19:56.808 --> 19:59.239 recently there over the summer . Uh We 19:59.250 --> 20:01.306 look forward to working with the new 20:01.306 --> 20:03.910 government um to further deepening our 20:03.920 --> 20:06.142 cooper operation and building upon some 20:06.142 --> 20:08.309 of the deliverables that in fact , you 20:08.309 --> 20:10.309 were on that trip . So , you know , 20:10.309 --> 20:12.476 very well . Um some of the things that 20:12.476 --> 20:14.531 were announced um that the secretary 20:14.531 --> 20:16.753 announced in Tokyo . Um So , you know , 20:16.753 --> 20:18.698 we , we certainly welcome this new 20:18.698 --> 20:20.587 administration looking forward to 20:20.587 --> 20:22.420 working with uh the new Japanese 20:22.420 --> 20:24.587 government . Um And I'll just leave it 20:24.587 --> 20:27.869 at that . Yes , sir . As far as after 20:27.880 --> 20:30.920 two plus two in New Delhi . And now at 20:30.930 --> 20:33.041 uh the leadership with the leadership 20:33.041 --> 20:35.579 of President Biden at Delaware Quad , 20:35.780 --> 20:38.339 uh us India , Japan and Australia they 20:38.349 --> 20:40.760 had there . So as far as us India 20:40.770 --> 20:42.959 relations are concerned , relations , 20:42.969 --> 20:45.329 where do we go from here now ? And also 20:45.339 --> 20:48.760 at the same time , uh if the escalation , 20:49.089 --> 20:52.760 the uh threatening from China or others 20:52.770 --> 20:54.979 have gone down or what is the future 20:54.989 --> 20:57.156 there ? those nations who are a little 20:57.156 --> 21:00.160 bit threatened by the China , including 21:00.170 --> 21:03.880 Taiwan and all that . So , um the quad 21:03.939 --> 21:06.770 uh is a group of like minded nations 21:06.780 --> 21:10.270 coming together um because they believe 21:10.280 --> 21:12.447 in a free and open Indo Pacific , that 21:12.447 --> 21:14.558 is the whole , you know , that is one 21:14.558 --> 21:16.669 of the many purposes of the Quad . Um 21:16.669 --> 21:18.891 So in terms of uh you know , where does 21:18.891 --> 21:21.169 the relationship go from here ? I mean , 21:21.169 --> 21:23.391 look at the extensive amount of details 21:23.391 --> 21:25.613 that , you know , the President and the 21:25.613 --> 21:27.836 White House announced just last weekend 21:27.836 --> 21:29.836 from those high level meetings that 21:29.836 --> 21:31.836 happened in Wilmington . Um I , you 21:31.836 --> 21:33.891 know , I'm just not gonna go through 21:33.891 --> 21:35.947 the litany of , of every deliverable 21:35.947 --> 21:35.939 that was announced , but I think the 21:35.949 --> 21:38.790 partnership between India and , and the 21:38.800 --> 21:42.349 United States is certainly strong . Um 21:42.489 --> 21:45.030 the engagement that you saw from the 21:45.040 --> 21:47.609 president with um Prime Minister Modi 21:47.619 --> 21:49.949 and others within the Quad uh builds 21:49.959 --> 21:52.589 upon the foundation and principles that 21:52.599 --> 21:54.665 the Quad was founded on , which is , 21:54.675 --> 21:56.842 you know , one of them being to ensure 21:56.842 --> 21:59.008 the free and open Indo Pacific . But I 21:59.008 --> 22:01.231 direct you to the White House for , you 22:01.231 --> 22:03.231 know , for more details of the quad 22:03.231 --> 22:05.175 meetings . And yeah , I'm just not 22:05.175 --> 22:07.286 going to go through that from here as 22:07.286 --> 22:10.814 far as peace is going on around the 22:10.824 --> 22:13.425 globe or not . Two wars are going on . 22:13.435 --> 22:15.491 One of course in the Middle East and 22:15.491 --> 22:18.229 second Russia and Ukraine and everybody 22:18.239 --> 22:20.510 is trying to bring peace in those 22:20.520 --> 22:22.631 between those nations and , and those 22:22.631 --> 22:24.798 regions , including the Prime Minister 22:24.798 --> 22:27.569 of India , tried and now uh President 22:27.579 --> 22:29.630 Gilani me was in the White House 22:29.640 --> 22:31.751 yesterday and today he's meeting with 22:31.751 --> 22:33.973 the president or former President Trump 22:33.973 --> 22:37.709 in New York at . So where do we 22:37.719 --> 22:40.540 stand , who are behind these uh uh 22:40.550 --> 22:42.949 nations that wars are still going on , 22:42.959 --> 22:45.500 let's say in the Middle East , who is 22:45.510 --> 22:49.410 behind uh uh Iran or uh 22:49.420 --> 22:52.729 I mean , of course , Hamas and Abdullah , 22:52.760 --> 22:55.130 but Iran or any other nations , they 22:55.140 --> 22:57.650 are involved . And as far as us and 22:57.660 --> 22:59.827 Russia and Ukraine is concerned who is 22:59.827 --> 23:03.550 behind those wars there . Um 23:03.920 --> 23:05.920 What an interesting question . Um I 23:05.920 --> 23:07.976 think it's pretty clear that uh when 23:07.976 --> 23:10.170 the war in Ukraine started , it was uh 23:10.180 --> 23:13.760 you know , directed by Russia's head of 23:13.770 --> 23:15.603 state and we know Vladimir Putin 23:15.603 --> 23:18.150 certainly has his agenda set on Ukraine . 23:18.319 --> 23:20.550 Um You know , I don't have to go into 23:20.560 --> 23:22.310 detail the work that this 23:22.319 --> 23:24.390 administration has done to ensure 23:24.400 --> 23:26.829 Ukraine gets what it needs in order to 23:26.839 --> 23:29.239 continue to fight every single day to 23:29.250 --> 23:31.583 take back its sovereign territory . And , 23:31.583 --> 23:33.910 you know , I'm not gonna , uh go 23:33.920 --> 23:36.569 through , uh , you know , a historical 23:36.579 --> 23:38.920 look back over the last 2.5 years or , 23:38.930 --> 23:40.986 you know , the last year . But , you 23:40.986 --> 23:42.986 know , on October 7th , a terrorist 23:42.986 --> 23:46.150 organization brutally attacked Israel . 23:46.260 --> 23:48.093 Um , and I think , you know what 23:48.093 --> 23:50.427 happened and unfolded since then . Yeah , 23:50.959 --> 23:52.903 I have two questions . First one , 23:52.903 --> 23:54.959 there are some reports claiming that 23:54.959 --> 23:57.130 the US cut off intelligence sharing 23:57.140 --> 23:59.040 with the Israeli regarding to the 23:59.119 --> 24:01.280 current operation in Lebanon . Do you 24:01.290 --> 24:03.619 confirm that or are you still sharing 24:03.630 --> 24:05.880 the intelligence with them ? We still 24:05.890 --> 24:08.150 regularly coordinate with the Israeli 24:08.160 --> 24:10.199 government and share intelligence ? 24:12.030 --> 24:14.939 II , I can't , I'm , I'm haven't seen 24:14.949 --> 24:17.060 this specific report but when it came 24:17.060 --> 24:18.949 to , if you're talking about this 24:18.949 --> 24:21.239 operation , um again , the United 24:21.250 --> 24:24.239 States was not involved in any way . Um 24:24.250 --> 24:26.250 And we had no advance warning . I'm 24:26.250 --> 24:28.472 just not going to get into more details 24:28.472 --> 24:30.472 on our intelligence sharing . Other 24:30.472 --> 24:32.583 than that we , you know , we do share 24:32.583 --> 24:32.119 intel and , and you know , generally 24:32.130 --> 24:34.560 speaking , um you know , Israel faces 24:34.569 --> 24:36.736 threats from , from all sides . And so 24:36.736 --> 24:38.680 of course , we share um you know , 24:38.680 --> 24:40.736 information around that . The second 24:40.736 --> 24:44.020 question Secretary Austin said today 24:44.030 --> 24:47.800 that he hopes that don't see a ground 24:48.089 --> 24:50.579 uh incur in Lebanon . And if that's 24:50.589 --> 24:52.811 happened , it's going to be a chance to 24:52.811 --> 24:54.645 the conflict could be a regional 24:54.645 --> 24:58.329 conflict . So Um Did you give this 24:58.339 --> 25:01.069 message directly to the Israelis and 25:01.079 --> 25:03.650 what their , what's their response 25:03.849 --> 25:06.449 about what your concerns about any 25:06.459 --> 25:08.800 ground operation in Lebanon ? Look , we 25:08.810 --> 25:11.088 don't want to see a wider regional war . 25:11.088 --> 25:13.199 We've been very clear about that from 25:13.199 --> 25:15.849 the beginning . Um The secretary 25:15.859 --> 25:17.469 continues and I think this 25:17.479 --> 25:20.630 administration broadly continues to 25:20.640 --> 25:22.696 urge for diplomacy . We know that is 25:22.696 --> 25:25.709 the best path , best path forward . Um 25:25.949 --> 25:28.099 And , you know , diplomacy cannot 25:28.109 --> 25:31.000 succeed amid , you know , uh 25:31.530 --> 25:33.709 continue tit for tats back and forth . 25:33.719 --> 25:35.719 So , um that's what the secretary's 25:35.719 --> 25:37.997 conversations are like with Mr Gallant , 25:37.997 --> 25:40.163 that's what he continues to urge for . 25:40.163 --> 25:42.219 Um , and I'll leave it at that . Did 25:42.219 --> 25:45.540 you have a follow up the United 25:46.640 --> 25:49.020 to prepare for an evacuation of 25:49.030 --> 25:51.439 Americans from Lebanon ? And , and 25:51.449 --> 25:53.489 secondly , after the call , putting 25:53.500 --> 25:55.722 aside , you know , what was said on the 25:55.722 --> 25:57.500 call after the call between the 25:57.500 --> 25:59.800 secretary and , and Gallant , um was 25:59.810 --> 26:02.032 there , did the secretary do anything ? 26:02.032 --> 26:04.310 Did he , did he , did he make any call ? 26:04.310 --> 26:06.421 Did he brief the president ? Did he , 26:06.421 --> 26:08.477 um , you know , change alert ? I ask 26:08.477 --> 26:10.532 for a briefing with the , with the , 26:10.532 --> 26:12.699 with , with General Kerri at Centcom . 26:12.699 --> 26:14.977 What , what did the secretary do after , 26:14.977 --> 26:17.032 after this call ? Um Thanks Phil for 26:17.032 --> 26:16.760 the question . So I'm just , I'm just 26:16.770 --> 26:18.770 not gonna get into his schedule and 26:18.770 --> 26:20.826 exactly what he did . But I think uh 26:20.826 --> 26:22.992 it's fair to say that , you know , you 26:22.992 --> 26:25.103 should reach out to the white house . 26:25.103 --> 26:27.214 And , um , you know , I , I know that 26:27.214 --> 26:29.548 the , the president has been briefed on , 26:29.548 --> 26:31.603 on , um , the , the events that have 26:31.603 --> 26:33.826 unfolded , but I'm just not gonna speak 26:33.826 --> 26:35.937 for more actions on , you know , that 26:35.937 --> 26:38.270 the secretary um , took other than that , 26:38.270 --> 26:40.437 you know , we're continuing to monitor 26:40.437 --> 26:40.280 what's happening in the region and 26:40.290 --> 26:42.623 that's exactly what he's doing and he's , 26:42.623 --> 26:44.846 you know , back en route from his uh uh 26:44.846 --> 26:47.012 trip and , um , you know , can do that 26:47.012 --> 26:49.234 from the plane and we'll continue to do 26:49.234 --> 26:51.979 so throughout the weekend . Um in terms 26:51.989 --> 26:53.989 of uh evacuation planning , I think 26:53.989 --> 26:55.989 that was your , is that your second 26:55.989 --> 26:59.660 question ? Um Again , we plan for all 26:59.670 --> 27:01.781 types of contingencies , all types of 27:01.781 --> 27:04.000 events anywhere in the world . Um 27:04.260 --> 27:07.400 Should we need to , you know , perform 27:07.410 --> 27:10.479 any type of evacuation ? Uh We are 27:10.489 --> 27:12.711 postured to do so we have assets in the 27:12.711 --> 27:15.000 region . Um But that's , we're not . 27:17.250 --> 27:19.790 Um And we certainly plan for a wide 27:19.800 --> 27:21.744 range of contingencies at all time 27:21.969 --> 27:24.849 again , as you've , you know , know , 27:24.859 --> 27:26.829 we've sent a , a small number of 27:26.839 --> 27:29.310 additional forces into the region . Um 27:29.719 --> 27:31.330 We continue to be a planning 27:31.330 --> 27:33.219 organization and from the very 27:33.229 --> 27:35.451 beginning , you know , from October 8th 27:35.451 --> 27:37.507 on , we moved assets to the region . 27:37.507 --> 27:39.673 Should we need to plan for any type of 27:39.673 --> 27:41.840 event , whether it be an evacuation or 27:41.840 --> 27:44.007 something else ? Um So far that hasn't 27:44.007 --> 27:46.229 happened . You're not there yet . We're 27:46.229 --> 27:48.451 not there yet . Right . Yes . Uh Thanks 27:48.451 --> 27:50.340 Sabrina . Um a Chinese think tank 27:50.340 --> 27:52.285 published a report today about the 27:52.285 --> 27:54.451 South China Sea uh saying there's more 27:54.451 --> 27:57.619 than 10 air air and maritime encounters 27:58.060 --> 28:00.709 uh every day between the US and China . 28:01.030 --> 28:03.280 Um And it says the majority of these 28:03.290 --> 28:05.510 encounters are safe and professional . 28:05.569 --> 28:07.660 I'm wondering whether you agree with 28:07.670 --> 28:10.050 that assessment . And it also alleges 28:10.060 --> 28:13.380 that uh found a are from the US uh 28:13.390 --> 28:16.209 poses a threat to maritime uh freedom 28:16.219 --> 28:18.219 in the South China Sea . And do you 28:18.219 --> 28:20.069 have any any comment on that ? I 28:20.079 --> 28:22.229 haven't seen the report so I candidly 28:22.239 --> 28:24.689 can't comment on that . Uh I can tell 28:24.699 --> 28:28.030 you um with , with , with uh strong 28:28.040 --> 28:30.699 confidence that we stand for the 28:30.709 --> 28:33.290 freedom of navigation . Um and we will 28:33.300 --> 28:35.709 continue to sail , fly and operate 28:35.719 --> 28:38.150 anywhere in the world in international 28:38.160 --> 28:40.689 waters at that . Yeah , and I want to , 28:40.699 --> 28:42.810 I had a follow up about the a Defense 28:42.900 --> 28:45.170 minister meeting from yesterday . The 28:45.180 --> 28:47.402 secretary mentioned in his remarks that 28:47.402 --> 28:49.380 the August innovation leads are 28:49.390 --> 28:52.000 developing a robust uh two year agenda 28:52.040 --> 28:54.207 to work with industry . What would the 28:54.207 --> 28:56.151 secretary be looking for from that 28:56.151 --> 28:58.380 agenda and any advice that he would 28:58.390 --> 29:00.112 have for industry that want to 29:00.112 --> 29:02.279 participate in pillar two activities ? 29:02.280 --> 29:04.113 I would refer you to the joint , 29:04.113 --> 29:06.280 communicate the commun that's online . 29:06.280 --> 29:08.336 I think that has more details . That 29:08.336 --> 29:07.589 would probably address some of your 29:07.599 --> 29:08.599 questions . 29:12.030 --> 29:14.086 7 billion in new aid from the United 29:14.086 --> 29:16.308 States military aid including for their 29:16.308 --> 29:18.419 current operations . In Lebanon . Can 29:18.419 --> 29:20.252 you confirm that and provide any 29:20.252 --> 29:20.170 details on that ? If so ? Yeah , I 29:20.180 --> 29:22.291 think there's a bit of confusion here 29:22.291 --> 29:24.402 will . So I'm actually glad you asked 29:24.402 --> 29:26.680 that . Uh So the assistance referenced , 29:26.680 --> 29:28.736 um what you were just referencing is 29:28.736 --> 29:31.119 from the supplemental appropriation for 29:31.130 --> 29:33.130 emergency assistance to Israel that 29:33.390 --> 29:35.540 passed and that the president signed 29:35.550 --> 29:37.979 into law earlier this year . Um A 29:37.989 --> 29:40.211 significant portion of that aid will go 29:40.211 --> 29:42.378 to strengthen Israel's air defenses as 29:42.378 --> 29:44.433 Israel continues to face attacks and 29:44.433 --> 29:46.767 threats from Iranian proxies . So again , 29:46.767 --> 29:49.709 this is previously announced assistance 29:49.930 --> 29:51.874 and for more , I direct you to the 29:51.874 --> 29:54.097 state department specifically linked to 29:54.097 --> 29:53.920 Lebanon , which is what they said , 29:54.410 --> 29:56.577 this was previously announced when the 29:56.577 --> 29:58.790 supplemental pass , which was back in 29:58.800 --> 30:02.540 April , I think . Yeah . So in 30:02.550 --> 30:05.250 addition to the support uh air defenses 30:05.260 --> 30:07.149 in Israel , this package includes 30:07.149 --> 30:09.709 according to the Israeli uh section 30:09.719 --> 30:11.941 that has to do with supporting the what 30:11.941 --> 30:15.010 they call war effort . Um Can you 30:15.020 --> 30:16.800 explain to me the logic of this 30:16.810 --> 30:18.810 administration trying to understand 30:18.810 --> 30:21.032 here on the one hand you want diplomacy 30:21.032 --> 30:23.254 to succeed , you don't think escalation 30:23.254 --> 30:25.477 is the solution . Netanyahu from the UN 30:25.477 --> 30:27.366 UN GGA says clearly he's going to 30:27.366 --> 30:29.477 continue the war . At the same time , 30:29.477 --> 30:31.477 you provide him with the weapons to 30:31.477 --> 30:33.699 continue the war . Can you explain that 30:33.699 --> 30:35.866 to me please Fadi as you know , Israel 30:35.866 --> 30:38.088 faces threats from Iranian proxy groups 30:38.088 --> 30:40.143 and was brutally attacked on October 30:40.143 --> 30:42.254 7th . So this administration has been 30:42.254 --> 30:45.689 clear that in the face of those attacks 30:45.699 --> 30:47.979 and consistent threats , you know , 30:48.180 --> 30:50.180 almost every single day and again , 30:50.180 --> 30:52.347 October 7th , I direct you to the fact 30:52.347 --> 30:54.310 that an Iran backed group brutally 30:54.319 --> 30:56.839 attacked Israel that day . Um This 30:56.849 --> 30:58.849 administration , this president has 30:58.849 --> 31:01.016 been committed to providing Israel the 31:01.016 --> 31:04.540 support for self defense . Um this F MS 31:04.550 --> 31:06.800 supplemental package as you know , 31:06.810 --> 31:09.199 these are , you know , sales and 31:09.209 --> 31:11.376 assistance that can take a very , very 31:11.376 --> 31:13.542 long time . So I just , I just want to 31:13.542 --> 31:15.376 be clear that yes , we are still 31:15.376 --> 31:17.640 providing um Israel assistance that it 31:17.650 --> 31:20.880 needs in its self defense . But some of 31:20.890 --> 31:23.112 what , you know , Congress appropriated 31:23.112 --> 31:25.112 out in the supplemental is going to 31:25.112 --> 31:27.279 take some time just like for Ukraine , 31:27.279 --> 31:29.501 the supplemental that was allocated for 31:29.501 --> 31:31.612 Ukraine . Some of that is PD A coming 31:31.612 --> 31:33.834 directly off our shelves . Some of that 31:33.834 --> 31:35.890 is USA I that can take a year or two 31:35.890 --> 31:38.001 years longer to reach the , the front 31:38.001 --> 31:40.334 lines . Does that make , does that help ? 31:40.334 --> 31:42.057 I mean , I understand you keep 31:42.057 --> 31:44.168 referring to October 7th . What about 31:44.168 --> 31:46.334 October 8th ? What about October 9th ? 31:46.334 --> 31:48.334 What about 41,000 Palestinians dead 31:48.334 --> 31:50.501 later ? What about what's happening in 31:50.501 --> 31:52.723 Lebanon ? Is this still within Israel's 31:52.723 --> 31:54.890 right to defend itself ? I think we've 31:54.890 --> 31:57.057 been pretty clear Fadi and we've had , 31:57.057 --> 31:59.168 you know , conversations about this . 31:59.168 --> 32:01.057 Uh we don't support um you know , 32:01.057 --> 32:03.057 innocent civilian dies . We believe 32:03.057 --> 32:05.112 that , you know , the , the casualty 32:05.112 --> 32:07.279 count is too high . Um and you've seen 32:07.279 --> 32:09.279 the secretary emphasize that in his 32:09.279 --> 32:11.501 calls , um , you know , from very early 32:11.501 --> 32:13.719 on , um , that's why we continue to 32:13.729 --> 32:16.640 urge for diplomatic means to resolve , 32:16.650 --> 32:18.650 um , what's happening in the Middle 32:18.650 --> 32:20.761 East and , and , you know , I have to 32:20.761 --> 32:23.160 direct you back to the point that , um , 32:24.170 --> 32:26.337 it wasn't just the , it's not just the 32:26.337 --> 32:28.503 United States pushing for this . There 32:28.503 --> 32:30.503 are Arab nations pushing for this , 32:30.503 --> 32:32.559 there are European countries pushing 32:32.559 --> 32:34.781 for the need for a diplomatic resolve . 32:34.781 --> 32:37.739 And so , um you know , we're gonna keep 32:37.750 --> 32:39.917 trying , we're gonna keep working hard 32:39.917 --> 32:41.861 every single day to make sure that 32:41.861 --> 32:43.917 happens . Um And we're going to keep 32:43.917 --> 32:46.028 having Frank and honest conversations 32:46.028 --> 32:48.250 with our Israeli counterparts , Louis . 32:48.250 --> 32:50.417 Did you have a verification , please ? 32:50.417 --> 32:52.583 Um When you've been saying we were not 32:52.583 --> 32:54.917 informed with regards to this operation , 32:54.917 --> 32:56.972 are you saying we the Pentagon or we 32:56.972 --> 32:59.194 the United States , we the United Sta I 32:59.194 --> 33:01.361 mean , I'm let me clarify , I speak on 33:01.361 --> 33:03.472 behalf of the Department of Defense . 33:03.472 --> 33:05.528 So I would say that on behalf of the 33:05.528 --> 33:07.528 Department of Defense , we were not 33:07.528 --> 33:09.639 notified about this operation . Is it 33:09.639 --> 33:11.861 possible that other parts of the United 33:11.861 --> 33:11.400 States government may have been 33:11.410 --> 33:13.619 informed and not specifically the 33:13.630 --> 33:15.852 leadership in this building , but maybe 33:15.852 --> 33:18.019 somewhere else again , not , not going 33:18.019 --> 33:20.186 to speak . You know , I'm , I'm not at 33:20.186 --> 33:22.408 the , the another podium here , but I , 33:22.408 --> 33:24.463 I think that's highly unlikely . And 33:24.463 --> 33:26.574 then the other clarification , um You 33:26.574 --> 33:28.686 were asked earlier , whether you were 33:28.686 --> 33:30.686 seeing signs of any imminent ground 33:30.686 --> 33:32.852 incursion , which you know , you spoke 33:32.852 --> 33:35.150 to last week . Um Can you say that 33:35.160 --> 33:37.271 whether you're now seeing signs of an 33:37.271 --> 33:39.271 imminent ground incursion ? Because 33:39.271 --> 33:42.050 your answer last time earlier today was 33:42.109 --> 33:44.165 we don't think a ground incursion is 33:44.165 --> 33:46.498 the right path forward . Are you saying , 33:46.498 --> 33:48.553 are you inferring that there will be 33:48.553 --> 33:50.665 something happening in short order or 33:50.665 --> 33:52.776 again ? I mean , can you just clarify 33:52.776 --> 33:54.553 what you're , I'm not inferring 33:54.553 --> 33:56.609 anything . I'm I'm saying that we do 33:56.609 --> 33:56.579 not believe a ground incursion is the 33:56.589 --> 33:59.579 right path forward . Um We are 33:59.589 --> 34:01.700 continuing to engage our , you know , 34:02.609 --> 34:04.609 the secretary engage minister go on 34:04.609 --> 34:06.720 today . Uh We certainly want to see a 34:06.729 --> 34:09.050 path towards diplomacy and just , just 34:09.060 --> 34:11.227 to clarify because I , I don't want to 34:11.227 --> 34:13.227 split hairs here and I , you know , 34:13.227 --> 34:15.449 while I'm not speaking at um you know , 34:15.449 --> 34:17.671 the White House podium , I think I just 34:17.671 --> 34:19.782 want to be very clear that when I , I 34:19.782 --> 34:21.949 think definitively , when I say we , I 34:21.949 --> 34:21.800 think I can broadly say the United 34:21.810 --> 34:24.610 States was not and had no knowledge of 34:24.620 --> 34:26.509 this operation and was not giving 34:26.509 --> 34:28.731 advance warning . Um You know , again , 34:29.199 --> 34:31.366 the call happened as it was underway . 34:31.366 --> 34:33.310 So I think I just want to be super 34:33.310 --> 34:35.421 clear that , you know , words are not 34:35.421 --> 34:37.477 parsed , that there's any indication 34:37.477 --> 34:39.699 that another , you know , building or , 34:39.699 --> 34:41.755 you know , agency had a heads up . I 34:41.755 --> 34:43.977 think we are all on the same sheet here 34:43.977 --> 34:46.032 that , uh , the United States had no 34:46.032 --> 34:49.939 knowledge of this . Ok . Sure . You've 34:49.949 --> 34:52.239 just given the same answer . But , you 34:52.249 --> 34:54.082 know , we don't think the ground 34:54.082 --> 34:56.249 incursion is the right be since you've 34:56.249 --> 34:58.448 previously said we do not see any sign 34:58.458 --> 35:00.569 of an imminent ground incursion . Are 35:00.569 --> 35:02.736 you still not seeing any imminent sign 35:02.736 --> 35:04.958 of a ground incursion as of right now ? 35:04.958 --> 35:07.014 I mean , one , I don't want to speak 35:07.014 --> 35:09.180 for the Israelis , I as of today , you 35:09.180 --> 35:11.402 know , we're not seeing that . Um but I 35:11.402 --> 35:13.514 would refer you to them to , to speak 35:13.514 --> 35:15.680 to their own operations . Charlie . Do 35:15.680 --> 35:15.148 you have one more ? And then we can 35:15.158 --> 35:18.629 wrap up one more question . You have 35:18.639 --> 35:21.540 repeatedly said that the US military 35:21.550 --> 35:23.717 has the capacity for a mass evacuation 35:23.717 --> 35:26.229 if necessary . You have the capability 35:26.879 --> 35:29.310 as of a few hours ago . The specter of 35:29.320 --> 35:31.431 that mass evacuation might have edged 35:31.431 --> 35:33.500 closer if you're talking about the , 35:33.820 --> 35:35.653 you know , the US S Wasp and the 35:35.653 --> 35:38.090 marines on board all practiced and 35:38.100 --> 35:40.211 ready to do that . You may be talking 35:40.211 --> 35:42.378 as many as 80,000 Americans who are in 35:42.378 --> 35:44.267 Lebanon . The US military has the 35:44.267 --> 35:46.156 capacity to mass evacuate tens of 35:46.156 --> 35:48.267 thousands of Americans , Americans as 35:48.267 --> 35:50.969 they did in 2006 , the United States 35:50.979 --> 35:53.469 military has incredible capabilities 35:53.479 --> 35:55.780 and we are an incredible force . And 35:55.790 --> 35:58.012 because of that , I'm just not going to 35:58.012 --> 36:00.179 go into speculating on a scenario that 36:00.179 --> 36:02.290 hasn't happened . What I can tell you 36:02.290 --> 36:04.419 is we plan for a wide range of 36:04.429 --> 36:06.485 different contingencies . And that's 36:06.485 --> 36:08.596 what makes us so great at what we are 36:08.596 --> 36:10.762 able to do is because we have plans on 36:10.762 --> 36:13.096 the shelves that we can easily dust off . 36:13.096 --> 36:15.510 Uh , we practice , we do exercises , uh , 36:15.520 --> 36:18.110 we do drills constantly that make us 36:18.120 --> 36:20.287 ready and prepared . Should we need to 36:20.287 --> 36:23.879 be called up for whether it be any type 36:23.889 --> 36:26.340 of event we would be ready for ? Um , 36:26.350 --> 36:28.461 again , I'm just not going to go down 36:28.461 --> 36:30.780 the path of , of speculating . Um I can 36:30.790 --> 36:32.623 tell you that we are going to do 36:32.623 --> 36:34.846 everything that we can , of course , to 36:34.846 --> 36:36.909 defend our forces in the region , to 36:36.919 --> 36:40.080 protect us citizens . Um But again , 36:40.090 --> 36:42.201 we're , we're , we're just , just not 36:42.201 --> 36:44.257 going to go down a hypothetical path 36:44.257 --> 36:46.257 right now . Ok . All right . Thanks 36:46.257 --> 36:45.159 everyone .