US Defense Secretary: If Israel is attacked, we will help defend it

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed the United States’ readiness to defend Israel if it’s attacked.
Austin’s remarks came during his visit to the Philippines, after the Israeli army bombed the southern suburbs of Beirut on Tuesday evening.
“As I said yesterday, if Israel is attacked, we will of course help defend it,” Austin told reporters.
“You saw us do that in April, and you can expect us to do that again now,” he added, referring to US intervention in the April 13 Iranian missile attack on Israel, which came in response to the Israeli military targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
Despite his emphasis on readiness to defend Israel, Austin stressed that the United States seeks to avoid such things happening, and confirmed that efforts will focus on reducing tension and dealing with matters through diplomatic means.
In previous statements, Austin warned that any escalation between Lebanon and Israel could lead to an explosion of the situation in the region.