U.S. Defense "supports Israeli defense rights" in Lebanon's limited ground war

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he consulted and supported Israel's defense minister Joaab Galant over Israel's limited launch of a ground war in Lebanon.

In a post on his social media on the 1st local time, Austin discussed the security situation and Israel's operations with Galant and said, "The United States has made it clear that it supports Israel's right to defend itself."

"We have agreed on the need to dismantle our offensive infrastructure along the border so that Hezbollah cannot launch attacks on northern Israel," he continued.

In particular, "the United States has made it clear that it is prepared to defend Americans and their allies against the threat of Iran and Iranian-backed terrorist organizations," it added.

"I reiterated that Iran's direct military aggression against Israel would have serious consequences for Iran," he said.

It is the first time in 18 years that Israel has deployed ground forces to Lebanon since 2006, raising concerns that the war in Gaza may spread across the Middle East.