Israel Defense Minister Benny Gantz met with his U.S. counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, to discuss concerns about Iran’s military aggression, asserting it has reached an all-time high. Gantz emphasized that the aggression poses a grave threat to regional security and international peace, dubbing the situation as a significant point of concern for Israel. Israel has been wary of the Biden administration’s intent to rejoin the 2015 nuclear deal, which the Trump Administration had withdrawn from.
Gantz also brought up the rising militarization of Iran’s proxy groups in the Middle East. He noted that these groups are being equipped with precision-guided munitions (PGMs), enabling them to reach and target any location in the Middle East with high levels of accuracy. This is a significant upgrade from the lower-tier rockets usually employed by such groups, and presents an increased threat level to regional security.
In a joint statement, both nations’ defense ministers reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the threats from the Iranian-backed groups. Further, Gantz ensured support for the U.S.’ efforts to renew diplomacy while still standing against Iran’s destabilizing actions and aggressive behavior.
The U.S. Department of Defense pledged to continue working closely with Israel to address threats to regional peace and emphasized on responding to any challenge to its regional partners. Moreover, the U.S. is keen to strengthen its cooperation with its Middle Eastern allies to effectively counter these threats.
