WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to travel to the Middle East in the coming days — his second in the last two months — the Pentagon said, as Washington exerts efforts to manage the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and potentially find a solution to end it.
“He will also have an opportunity to meet some of our forces deployed to the region to thank them for their service,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s top spokesperson.
Austin’s last visit to Israel was in mid-October, shortly after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants that resulted in the loss of hundreds of Israeli civilians.
Although specific details of the visit were not provided by the Pentagon, Ryder indicated that Austin is scheduled to meet with leaders from Israel, Qatar, and Bahrain.
