Sec. Austin on the Israel War: We’re Concerned About the Prospect of an Escalation of Attacks on Our Troops and People

KARL Joining us now ░░░░░░░░ Secretary of Defense Lloyd ░░░░░░░░ Secretary Austin thank you ░░░░░░░░ being here I want ░░░░░░░░ start with those moves ░░░░░░░░ announced late yesterday last ░░░░░░░░ You ve got the ░░░░░░░░ Eisenhower going to the ░░░░░░░░ Gulf You ve got ░░░░░░░░ missile defense systems headed ░░░░░░░░ the region troops put ░░░░░░░░ standby What s behind ░░░░░░░░ moves AUSTIN Well Jonathan ░░░░░░░░ you know recently we ░░░░░░░░ seen rocket and UAV ░░░░░░░░ against bases housing our ░░░░░░░░ in Iraq and Syria ░░░░░░░░ re concerned about potential ░░░░░░░░ In fact what we ░░░░░░░░ seeing is a is ░░░░░░░░ prospect of a significant ░░░░░░░░ of attacks on our ░░░░░░░░ and our people throughout ░░░░░░░░ region And because of ░░░░░░░░ we re going to ░░░░░░░░ what s necessary to ░░░░░░░░ sure that our troops ░░░░░░░░ in the right in ░░░░░░░░ good position and they ░░░░░░░░ protected and that we ░░░░░░░░ the ability to respond ░░░░░░░░ this additional deployment sends ░░░░░░░░ message to those who ░░░░░░░░ who would seek to ░░░░░░░░ this conflict As President ░░░░░░░░ said earlier and as ░░░░░░░░ ve heard me say ░░░░░░░░ any group or any ░░░░░░░░ is looking to widen ░░░░░░░░ conflict and take advantage ░░░░░░░░ this very unfortunate situation ░░░░░░░░ we see our advice ░░░░░░░░ don t We maintain ░░░░░░░░ right to defend ourselves ░░░░░░░░ we won t hesitate ░░░░░░░░ take the appropriate action.”