Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has postponed an upcoming meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in the United States just hours before his scheduled departure, the Pentagon has said.
Singh did not provide further details regarding exactly why the visit was dropped by Israel.
“This was a visit that was scheduled by Minister Gallant. And of course, the Secretary would always love to host him at the Pentagon,” Singh said. “The visit’s been postponed, and we'll work with Minister Gallant’s office should his trip be rescheduled to a later date.”
Singh added that Austin and Gallant remain in “constant communication” and Secretary Austin “looks forward to seeing him soon.”
The Pentagon deputy press secretary said it was unclear exactly how long Gallant’s visit to Washington would be postponed.
Gallant and Austin may speak on the phone in the next few days or weeks, she said.
Singh said there is “nothing that can’t be discussed over the phone that can be discussed in person.”
The canceled visit follows a missile strike against Israel launched by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) earlier this month, which Iran claimed was in retaliation for the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July and the Israeli airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last month.
Israel has vowed to respond to Tehran’s strike, prompting a warning from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that any retaliatory attacks on Iranian infrastructure would be met with an even stronger response.
