Defense Sec. Austin Foresees Potential Conflict Between U.S. Troops and Gaza Forces Soon

EXCERPT:

GAETZ: “Ms. Slotkin just said there'll be about 1,000 U.S. service members operating a peer system off of Gaza. How many of them will have guns, Mr. Secretary?”
AUSTIN: “Well, typically all of the deployed service member carry -- service members carry guns, and they have the ability to protect themselves, if -- if challenged.”
GAETZ: “So if someone from land in Gaza shoots at our service members who are on the $320 million pier that we're building, you're telling me our service members can shoot back?”
AUSTIN: “They have the -- they have the right to -- to return fire to protect themselves. Now -- now, again --”
GAETZ: “Well, do we do that's -- so now I want to move to the likelihood that you think someone from land in Gaza might shoot at our service members on this pier, do you think that that's a likely scenario?”
AUSTIN: “That's possible. Yes.”