WEBVTT 00:00.200 --> 00:03.200 Ok , good morning . Every no , try that 00:03.210 --> 00:05.389 again . Good afternoon , everyone . Uh 00:05.400 --> 00:07.511 Just a few things at the top and then 00:07.511 --> 00:09.233 happy to jump in and take your 00:09.233 --> 00:11.122 questions . Uh So earlier today , 00:11.122 --> 00:13.233 Secretary Austin spoke with Ukraine's 00:13.233 --> 00:15.289 Minister of Defense Umarov regarding 00:15.289 --> 00:17.122 Ukraine's most pressing security 00:17.122 --> 00:19.178 assistance needs . The secretary and 00:19.178 --> 00:21.289 the minister discussed the ongoing US 00:21.289 --> 00:23.400 security assistance efforts following 00:23.400 --> 00:25.456 the passage of the national security 00:25.456 --> 00:27.511 supplemental including the recent $1 00:27.511 --> 00:29.622 billion presidential drawdown package 00:29.622 --> 00:31.909 and $6 billion in Ukraine security 00:31.920 --> 00:34.169 assistance initiative . Announcements , 00:34.450 --> 00:36.650 Minister Umarov provided an update of 00:36.659 --> 00:38.826 dynamics on the battlefield as well as 00:38.826 --> 00:41.048 the impact of Russia's continued aerial 00:41.048 --> 00:43.270 attacks across Ukraine . Additionally , 00:43.270 --> 00:45.630 Secretary Austin also met today with 00:45.639 --> 00:47.695 his Majesty King Abdullah the second 00:47.695 --> 00:49.909 today to discuss regional areas of 00:49.919 --> 00:52.790 mutual concern and op opportunities for 00:52.799 --> 00:54.970 co-operation . A readout of their 00:54.979 --> 00:56.590 meeting will be available on 00:56.590 --> 00:59.610 defense.gov later today . Now I'd like 00:59.619 --> 01:01.619 to provide an update on our efforts 01:01.619 --> 01:03.563 with USA ID to search humanitarian 01:03.563 --> 01:05.730 assistance into Gaza through the joint 01:05.730 --> 01:07.897 logistics over the shore capability or 01:07.897 --> 01:10.389 also known as J Lots . As of today , 01:10.400 --> 01:12.289 the US military has completed the 01:12.289 --> 01:14.430 offshore construction of the Trident 01:14.440 --> 01:17.410 pier section or the causeway which is 01:17.419 --> 01:19.530 the component that will eventually be 01:19.530 --> 01:21.800 anchored to the Gaza shore . And as I 01:21.809 --> 01:23.920 mentioned last week , construction of 01:23.920 --> 01:26.142 the floating pier section has also been 01:26.142 --> 01:28.489 completed . So as of today , the 01:28.500 --> 01:30.722 construction of the two portions of the 01:30.722 --> 01:33.000 J lots , the floating pier and the 01:33.010 --> 01:35.449 Trident pier are complete and awaiting 01:35.459 --> 01:38.610 final movement offshore . As you know , 01:38.620 --> 01:40.889 late last week , Centcom temporarily 01:40.900 --> 01:42.900 paused moving the floating pier and 01:42.900 --> 01:44.949 Trident pier toward the vicinity of 01:44.959 --> 01:48.209 Gaza due to sea state considerations . 01:49.150 --> 01:51.206 Today , there are still forecasted , 01:51.206 --> 01:53.261 high winds and high sea swells which 01:53.261 --> 01:55.483 are causing unsafe conditions for the J 01:55.483 --> 01:57.539 lots components to be moved . So the 01:57.539 --> 01:59.483 pier sections and military vessels 01:59.483 --> 02:01.650 involved in its construction are still 02:01.650 --> 02:03.594 positioned at the port of Ashdod . 02:03.594 --> 02:05.761 However , as Centcom stands by to move 02:05.761 --> 02:07.706 the pure into position in the near 02:07.706 --> 02:09.761 future and again in partnership with 02:09.761 --> 02:11.983 USA ID , we're loading humanitarian aid 02:11.990 --> 02:14.899 onto the MV Sagamore which is currently 02:14.910 --> 02:17.399 in Cyprus . The Sagamore is a cargo 02:17.410 --> 02:19.632 vessel that will use the JLO system and 02:19.632 --> 02:21.799 will make trips between Cyprus and the 02:21.799 --> 02:24.220 offshore floating pier as us aid and 02:24.229 --> 02:26.396 other partners collect aid from around 02:26.396 --> 02:28.396 the world . And as we've previously 02:28.396 --> 02:30.580 briefed aid delivered to the floating 02:30.589 --> 02:32.979 pier will then be trans loaded onto us 02:32.990 --> 02:35.460 military logistics support vessels and 02:35.470 --> 02:37.699 subsequently transported to the Trident 02:37.710 --> 02:40.330 Pier or the causeway where it will be 02:40.339 --> 02:42.506 loaded onto trucks for onward delivery 02:42.506 --> 02:44.610 and distribution by humanitarian 02:44.619 --> 02:48.289 assistance . NGO S switching gears . 02:48.880 --> 02:50.936 I'd like to highlight the start of a 02:50.936 --> 02:52.880 new exer of , of exercise , Astral 02:52.880 --> 02:54.830 night . A US European command 02:54.839 --> 02:56.783 integrated air and missile defense 02:56.783 --> 02:59.389 Capstone exercise , which is part of 02:59.399 --> 03:01.455 the defense department's large scale 03:01.455 --> 03:04.250 global exercise 2024 program . This two 03:04.259 --> 03:06.610 week exercise now in its sixth year 03:06.619 --> 03:09.050 will feature live flying and simulated 03:09.059 --> 03:11.490 combat scenarios focused in Poland and 03:11.500 --> 03:14.300 the Baltic States . Nearly 5000 03:14.309 --> 03:16.198 military members and more than 50 03:16.198 --> 03:18.289 aircraft from six NATO nations which 03:18.300 --> 03:20.940 include Estonia , Latvia , Lithuania , 03:20.949 --> 03:23.029 Poland , the United Kingdom and the 03:23.039 --> 03:25.470 United States will participate side by 03:25.479 --> 03:27.479 side , strengthening our ability to 03:27.479 --> 03:30.309 operate as one cohesive force . Astral 03:30.320 --> 03:32.376 knight underscores the importance of 03:32.376 --> 03:34.487 integrated air and missile defense in 03:34.487 --> 03:36.598 protecting allied military forces and 03:36.598 --> 03:38.598 critical assets from aerial threats 03:38.598 --> 03:40.320 such as missiles or drones and 03:40.320 --> 03:43.029 demonstrates our unwavering commitment 03:43.039 --> 03:45.095 to the security and readiness of our 03:45.095 --> 03:47.261 allies in Europe . And with that , I'd 03:47.261 --> 03:49.428 be happy to take your questions . I'll 03:49.428 --> 03:51.317 start off with Lita . Thank you , 03:51.317 --> 03:53.529 Sabrina . Um uh two things . One , can 03:53.539 --> 03:56.110 you give us an update on the soldier 03:56.119 --> 03:59.039 who's being held in Russia ? Do you 03:59.050 --> 04:01.106 have a sense ? Uh Apparently there's 04:01.106 --> 04:03.161 like a July 2nd , uh either trial or 04:03.161 --> 04:05.217 some sort of date . Do you have some 04:05.217 --> 04:07.550 sort of sense of what's happening there ? 04:07.550 --> 04:09.779 Um If you could just fill in the blanks 04:09.979 --> 04:13.910 and do you know , is it a violation 04:14.039 --> 04:16.679 of a regulation of some sort ? Does he 04:16.690 --> 04:20.084 face face discipline in action because 04:20.095 --> 04:21.975 he did not seek or receive 04:21.984 --> 04:23.984 authorization for the international 04:23.984 --> 04:26.151 travel if that's clear and then I have 04:26.151 --> 04:28.317 a quick follow up . Ok . So I'll start 04:28.317 --> 04:30.373 with , uh , I'll start with this and 04:30.373 --> 04:30.355 then happy to take your uh additional 04:30.364 --> 04:32.734 questions . So , um , for more 04:32.744 --> 04:36.075 information , um I would refer you to 04:36.084 --> 04:38.306 the army , but what I can tell you from 04:38.306 --> 04:40.473 here is that staff Sergeant , Gordon C 04:40.473 --> 04:42.674 black enlisted in the US Army as an 04:42.684 --> 04:45.304 infant infantryman and wasn't in , was 04:45.315 --> 04:48.179 enlisted as an infantryman in 2008 . He 04:48.190 --> 04:50.246 was most recently assigned to Eighth 04:50.246 --> 04:52.369 Army US forces . Korea at Camp 04:52.480 --> 04:54.424 Humphreys in the Republic of South 04:54.424 --> 04:57.779 Korea on April 10th , black out process 04:57.790 --> 04:59.734 from eighth army and signed out on 04:59.734 --> 05:02.179 permanent change of station uh to leave 05:02.190 --> 05:04.809 en route to Texas . However , instead 05:04.820 --> 05:07.459 of returning to the US , uh black flew 05:07.470 --> 05:10.880 from Korea through China . Um and then 05:10.890 --> 05:13.070 to Vladivostok , Russia for personal 05:13.079 --> 05:16.549 reasons . Um As of right now , uh 05:17.079 --> 05:19.301 Black is in current , is currently in a 05:19.301 --> 05:21.412 pretrial detention facility . Um It's 05:21.412 --> 05:23.523 my understanding he will remain there 05:23.523 --> 05:25.850 until um his next hearing and , and I'm 05:25.859 --> 05:28.026 not sure on that date . I refer you to 05:28.026 --> 05:30.500 State Department on that . Um The army 05:30.510 --> 05:32.609 has opened an administrative 05:32.619 --> 05:35.299 investigation to determine the facts 05:35.309 --> 05:37.420 and the circumstances surrounding his 05:37.420 --> 05:41.279 travel . Um But to your question on um 05:41.510 --> 05:44.399 you know , will there be consequences 05:44.410 --> 05:46.632 for his actions ? That's something that 05:46.632 --> 05:48.799 the army is going to look into through 05:48.799 --> 05:51.399 their investigation . Um But official 05:51.450 --> 05:55.149 or any leave to , um , Russia strictly 05:55.160 --> 05:57.382 prohibited . And that's pursuant to the 05:57.382 --> 05:59.760 dod foreign clearance guide , which of 05:59.769 --> 06:01.825 course is also informed by the State 06:01.825 --> 06:04.047 Department guidelines , which right now 06:04.047 --> 06:06.158 I believe that is at , um , I believe 06:06.158 --> 06:08.269 it's , it's category four which is do 06:08.269 --> 06:10.491 not travel to Russia . Um So that's the 06:10.491 --> 06:12.658 sort of overview of where things stand 06:12.658 --> 06:14.547 right now . Um And then just very 06:14.547 --> 06:16.769 quickly on the , on the pier , will the 06:16.769 --> 06:19.859 Sagamore wait in Cypress until the pier 06:19.869 --> 06:23.200 is actually um attached to the 06:23.209 --> 06:26.380 shoreline and at , at a certain point , 06:26.390 --> 06:28.519 do you have sort of an even an eta on 06:28.559 --> 06:30.448 when the sea states might be calm 06:30.448 --> 06:32.503 enough to do it ? Is the aid process 06:32.503 --> 06:35.040 ready ? So that once the sea state 06:35.299 --> 06:38.899 calms down , that can start . So , um I 06:38.910 --> 06:41.390 believe they will uh the , the Sagamore 06:41.399 --> 06:43.399 transiting to , to , you know , the 06:43.399 --> 06:45.010 floating pier will happen in 06:45.010 --> 06:47.121 conjunction when it's when everything 06:47.121 --> 06:49.343 is sort of ready to fit into place . Um 06:49.343 --> 06:51.510 I don't think one would happen without 06:51.510 --> 06:54.170 the other . Um So uh aid is continuing 06:54.179 --> 06:56.179 to get loaded on . Um Once the 06:56.190 --> 06:58.301 commander feels that , you know , the 06:58.301 --> 07:00.523 Sagamore is ready to leave and that the 07:00.523 --> 07:02.559 sea states have calmed , um We will 07:02.570 --> 07:04.760 position the J lots into place . Um I 07:04.769 --> 07:06.602 don't have an exact date for you 07:06.602 --> 07:08.713 because it is of course , weather and 07:08.713 --> 07:10.769 environment depending . Um But we're 07:10.769 --> 07:12.769 hoping for later this week . Um But 07:12.769 --> 07:14.769 that does depend , of course on the 07:14.769 --> 07:16.713 environmental conditions and , and 07:16.713 --> 07:18.769 security conditions as well . But um 07:18.769 --> 07:20.936 right now we're , we're focused on the 07:20.936 --> 07:22.991 environmental conditions surrounding 07:22.991 --> 07:25.047 the anchoring of that pier . Laura . 07:25.047 --> 07:27.102 Thanks Serena . I have one follow up 07:27.102 --> 07:29.158 and then a different question on the 07:29.158 --> 07:31.269 Sagamore , how much aid can that ship 07:31.269 --> 07:33.325 hold in terms of truckloads ? And is 07:33.325 --> 07:35.158 this the only ship that's taking 07:35.158 --> 07:37.158 advantage of the pier ? I guess I'm 07:37.158 --> 07:39.269 wondering like kind of the throughput 07:39.269 --> 07:39.095 of aid and how that's going to work ? 07:39.105 --> 07:41.327 How many trucks a day ? Um You know , I 07:41.327 --> 07:43.327 don't have an exact estimate on how 07:43.327 --> 07:45.327 much , how many like pallets it can 07:45.327 --> 07:47.494 load . Um I'm happy to get back to you 07:47.494 --> 07:49.716 on that one . I think it will vary just 07:49.716 --> 07:51.834 on how much , you know , different 07:51.845 --> 07:54.890 things that are packed onto it . Um And 07:54.899 --> 07:56.955 then I'm sorry , in terms of it will 07:56.955 --> 07:58.955 just be the only one going back and 07:58.955 --> 08:01.010 forth from the floor trying to get a 08:01.010 --> 08:03.232 senior defense visual told us , I think 08:03.232 --> 08:03.190 last week that it's that it's gonna , 08:03.200 --> 08:05.589 the JL is gonna be a lo to provide 100 08:05.600 --> 08:07.822 and 50 trucks a day at full operational 08:07.822 --> 08:10.429 capability . But um that just seems low 08:10.440 --> 08:12.440 to me considering that the maritime 08:12.440 --> 08:14.662 route , it seems like a ship would hold 08:14.662 --> 08:16.718 more than that . Well , I mean , you 08:16.718 --> 08:18.773 have to remember this is a temporary 08:18.773 --> 08:20.940 pier . This is not the best way to get 08:20.940 --> 08:23.225 humanitarian aid into Gaza . The best 08:23.234 --> 08:25.456 way are through those land routes . And 08:25.456 --> 08:27.623 we do want to see those opened up . We 08:27.623 --> 08:29.790 do want to see aid continue to flow in 08:29.790 --> 08:31.956 through those land crossings . Um This 08:31.956 --> 08:33.790 is just one , it's meant to help 08:33.790 --> 08:36.354 augment , um to help complement other 08:36.559 --> 08:38.726 uh ways that aid can get in . Not just 08:38.726 --> 08:40.892 do land routes , but of course , we're 08:40.892 --> 08:42.837 also doing those airdrops that you 08:42.837 --> 08:42.479 continue to see us do on a regular 08:42.489 --> 08:46.260 basis . Um I mean , 100 50 trucks is at 08:46.270 --> 08:48.103 its , you know , when it's fully 08:48.103 --> 08:50.103 operational . Um , I think you're , 08:50.103 --> 08:51.992 what you're gonna see at the very 08:51.992 --> 08:54.048 beginning is a , um , crawl walk run 08:54.048 --> 08:56.326 scenario was we're going to start with , 08:56.326 --> 08:58.437 you know , an additional small amount 08:58.437 --> 09:00.437 of a trucks to flow in to make sure 09:00.437 --> 09:02.270 that the system works , that the 09:02.270 --> 09:04.437 distribution works and then you'll see 09:04.437 --> 09:06.548 that increase . Um , of course , when 09:06.548 --> 09:06.479 we get to full operational capacity . 09:06.619 --> 09:08.859 Um , but that's something that the 09:08.869 --> 09:11.202 commander is continuing to work through . 09:11.202 --> 09:13.091 Uh , for more a like for more aid 09:13.091 --> 09:15.313 questions on the Sagamore and what it's 09:15.313 --> 09:17.536 holding , I would refer you to USA ID . 09:17.536 --> 09:19.591 And then just on a separate topic is 09:19.591 --> 09:21.702 the US considering the use of private 09:21.702 --> 09:23.813 military companies to help distribute 09:23.813 --> 09:26.091 aid in Gaza . Um I'm not aware of that , 09:26.091 --> 09:28.380 but that's something that , um , USA ID 09:28.390 --> 09:30.334 would be able to speak more to the 09:30.334 --> 09:32.446 distribution of aid once it gets into 09:32.446 --> 09:34.612 Gaza . Um , so I'd refer you to them . 09:34.612 --> 09:36.668 I also realized that you asked about 09:36.668 --> 09:38.834 the Sagamore being the only ship going 09:38.834 --> 09:41.112 back and forth . Um Just as a reminder , 09:41.112 --> 09:43.334 commercial ships can also go up to that 09:43.334 --> 09:45.668 floating pier . It's the military ships , 09:45.668 --> 09:47.723 the LC US and the LSVS that take the 09:47.723 --> 09:49.612 aid from the floating pier to the 09:49.612 --> 09:52.159 causeway that is only military but 09:52.169 --> 09:54.280 commercial ships can go up once there 09:54.280 --> 09:57.440 other ships can , once they um once aid 09:57.450 --> 09:59.960 is loaded in Cyprus inspected , it goes 09:59.969 --> 10:02.679 to the floating pier to the US has 10:02.690 --> 10:04.801 asked for a humanitarian plan for any 10:04.801 --> 10:06.579 Rafah operation . Have you guys 10:06.579 --> 10:08.579 received anything from the Israelis 10:08.579 --> 10:10.468 about how they're going to handle 10:10.468 --> 10:12.468 humanitarian effort , especially if 10:12.468 --> 10:14.523 Rafah Gate closes . Well , we've had 10:14.523 --> 10:16.746 conversations with the Israelis . There 10:16.746 --> 10:19.049 was a delegation here a few weeks ago 10:19.059 --> 10:21.400 that , you know , gave a general broad 10:21.409 --> 10:24.520 overview of their plans . We are not 10:24.530 --> 10:26.979 supportive of a large ground incursion 10:26.989 --> 10:30.539 into Rafa . We are very concerned that , 10:31.710 --> 10:33.710 you know , there are over 1 million 10:33.710 --> 10:35.766 people sheltering there . We want to 10:35.766 --> 10:35.650 make sure that civilian casualties are 10:35.659 --> 10:38.000 limited that there is no harm done . Um 10:38.010 --> 10:41.280 So we have made those concerns , voiced 10:41.289 --> 10:43.345 both , both publicly and privately . 10:43.345 --> 10:45.400 Give us a sense of what they said to 10:45.400 --> 10:47.511 you about their humanitarian plan . I 10:47.511 --> 10:49.733 as you can appreciate just not going to 10:49.733 --> 10:51.845 get into um closed door discussions . 10:51.845 --> 10:53.956 But as you know , and as we regularly 10:53.956 --> 10:56.178 read out , uh the secretary has regular 10:56.178 --> 10:58.345 calls with Minister Galan and um other 10:58.345 --> 11:00.345 folks from this building with their 11:00.345 --> 11:00.159 counterparts as well . So we're 11:00.169 --> 11:02.336 certainly in touch with the Israelis . 11:02.336 --> 11:05.109 Um , but , uh , we certainly do not 11:05.119 --> 11:07.341 support and have expressed our views on 11:07.341 --> 11:09.563 a major ground operation within Rafah . 11:09.563 --> 11:11.508 Say you satisfied with what you're 11:11.508 --> 11:13.730 hearing about their humanitarian plan . 11:13.730 --> 11:15.952 Um , I mean , again , I'm not gonna get 11:15.952 --> 11:18.063 into private conversations . We wanna 11:18.063 --> 11:20.286 see a co , we wanna see a concrete plan 11:20.286 --> 11:22.452 that will take into account , um , the 11:22.452 --> 11:24.508 over 1 million people that are there 11:24.508 --> 11:26.730 right now . Uh We don't support a large 11:26.730 --> 11:28.897 ground operation in Tarafa . I work my 11:28.897 --> 11:30.952 way down . I think Pat mentioned the 11:30.952 --> 11:32.786 security situation as one of the 11:32.786 --> 11:35.008 factors that could impact the timing of 11:35.008 --> 11:37.175 the pier of the coast of Gaza has have 11:37.175 --> 11:39.397 the Israeli strikes and sort of limited 11:39.397 --> 11:42.559 operation in Rafah changed your view of 11:42.570 --> 11:44.626 the security situation . Are you now 11:44.626 --> 11:46.681 more concerned about it ? Given what 11:46.681 --> 11:48.681 happened yesterday in Rafah , we're 11:48.681 --> 11:50.570 certainly taking into account the 11:50.580 --> 11:52.413 security consideration but still 11:52.413 --> 11:54.302 nothing has changed . We're still 11:54.302 --> 11:55.913 moving forward with um , the 11:55.913 --> 11:57.913 implementation of J Lots . Uh We do 11:57.913 --> 12:01.119 need these sc state conditions to study . 12:01.260 --> 12:03.371 Um And until they do , we're just not 12:03.371 --> 12:05.482 able to move that into the , into the 12:05.482 --> 12:07.704 um into its location at this time . But 12:07.704 --> 12:09.816 of course , the security situation is 12:09.816 --> 12:12.038 something that we're going to monitor . 12:12.038 --> 12:12.030 And if that does impact anything , when 12:12.039 --> 12:15.719 it comes to um the J Lots uh mission , 12:15.729 --> 12:18.380 we would , we would let you know and I 12:18.390 --> 12:20.557 realize your policy on sending weapons 12:20.557 --> 12:22.723 to Israel as a whole has not changed , 12:22.723 --> 12:24.946 but officials are saying some shipments 12:24.946 --> 12:27.112 have been paused . What are the , what 12:27.112 --> 12:26.719 message are you trying to send to 12:26.729 --> 12:28.840 Israel with those odds of shipments ? 12:28.840 --> 12:30.951 So , I don't have a , I've seen those 12:30.951 --> 12:33.118 reports . I don't have a comment and I 12:33.118 --> 12:35.285 certainly wouldn't comment on specific 12:35.285 --> 12:37.489 cases or shipments . Um , what I can 12:37.500 --> 12:39.500 reiterate is that our commitment to 12:39.500 --> 12:41.556 Israel's security remains ironclad . 12:41.556 --> 12:43.611 You've seen that since October 7th , 12:43.611 --> 12:45.833 you've seen a surge security assistance 12:45.833 --> 12:48.056 to Israel . Um , you've seen us come to 12:48.056 --> 12:50.222 the defense of Israel as recently as a 12:50.222 --> 12:52.056 few weeks ago when Iran launched 12:52.056 --> 12:54.278 attacks towards , um , Israel , we also 12:54.278 --> 12:56.215 were able to pass an emergency 12:56.224 --> 12:58.335 supplemental that searched additional 12:58.335 --> 13:00.955 security assistance to Israel . So , um , 13:00.965 --> 13:02.965 well , I'm not going to comment any 13:02.965 --> 13:04.854 further . I can tell you that our 13:04.854 --> 13:06.687 commitments to Israel's security 13:06.687 --> 13:08.965 remains the same . Thank you , Sabrina . 13:08.965 --> 13:11.076 Were you given any heads up from your 13:11.076 --> 13:13.270 Israeli counterparts about this latest 13:13.280 --> 13:16.190 operation into Rafah ? What is your 13:16.200 --> 13:18.144 understanding ? You said we do not 13:18.144 --> 13:20.256 support the major operation . Is this 13:20.256 --> 13:22.422 part of a major operation or limited ? 13:22.422 --> 13:24.478 What is the information available to 13:24.478 --> 13:24.460 you ? Our understanding is that this 13:24.469 --> 13:27.619 was a , um , a very limited operation 13:27.630 --> 13:30.200 designed to cut off , um , hamas' 13:30.210 --> 13:32.820 ability to smuggle more weapons and 13:32.830 --> 13:35.359 funding into Gaza . Um , that is our 13:35.369 --> 13:38.080 understanding right now . Um , this 13:38.090 --> 13:41.010 just happened , uh I think very early 13:41.020 --> 13:42.687 morning hours here . So we're 13:42.687 --> 13:44.687 monitoring the situation . We're in 13:44.687 --> 13:46.798 touch with our Israeli counterparts . 13:46.798 --> 13:48.909 We're going to see how this unfolds , 13:48.909 --> 13:51.020 but I just don't have more for you to 13:51.020 --> 13:53.187 offer on like what this operation is . 13:53.187 --> 13:56.280 Other than that , according to the this 13:56.289 --> 14:00.200 operation and prior Israeli steps 14:00.210 --> 14:03.869 basically cut off all humanitarian 14:03.929 --> 14:06.390 aid into Gaza . All crossings are shut 14:06.400 --> 14:09.200 down in this one area . Rafah , 14:09.369 --> 14:11.590 obviously , uh you've been insisting 14:11.599 --> 14:13.655 and the secretary and every read out 14:13.655 --> 14:15.877 that there should be an urgent increase 14:15.877 --> 14:18.479 uh in humanitarian aid is this 14:18.489 --> 14:21.090 operation and the closing of the Rafa 14:21.500 --> 14:24.960 crossing meet uh your uh uh 14:25.760 --> 14:28.650 objectives in terms of the humanitarian 14:28.659 --> 14:30.659 situation in Gaza . Well , we don't 14:30.659 --> 14:32.789 support the closing of these land 14:32.799 --> 14:34.855 routes . We want to see humanitarian 14:34.855 --> 14:37.077 aid to continue to get in . Um And so I 14:37.077 --> 14:38.966 think that was something that the 14:38.966 --> 14:40.966 president spoke to in his call with 14:40.966 --> 14:40.919 Prime Minister Netanyahu is that we do 14:40.929 --> 14:43.419 want to see these crossings open . 14:43.630 --> 14:45.686 Karem Shalom has been closed for , I 14:45.686 --> 14:48.700 think a bit now . Um So we do want to 14:48.710 --> 14:50.710 see more aid be able to get through 14:50.710 --> 14:52.821 these crossing . That is a commitment 14:52.821 --> 14:54.877 that the Israeli government has made 14:54.877 --> 14:57.099 that they will um again , we are we are 14:57.099 --> 14:59.266 continuing to monitor the situation on 14:59.266 --> 15:01.488 the ground to Lara's question earlier , 15:01.488 --> 15:03.710 we know land routes are the best , most 15:03.710 --> 15:05.543 effective , efficient way to get 15:05.543 --> 15:07.710 humanitarian aid in . And we know that 15:07.710 --> 15:09.821 the humanitarian situation in Gaza is 15:09.821 --> 15:11.877 dire . Um And so people need the the 15:11.877 --> 15:14.530 medical supplies , the food , the water . 15:14.619 --> 15:16.786 Um , that is something that we want to 15:16.786 --> 15:18.849 see continue to get in . And we have 15:18.859 --> 15:20.859 been told that these crossings will 15:20.859 --> 15:23.309 open back up . Um , in the meantime , 15:23.320 --> 15:25.264 you know , we've also continued to 15:25.264 --> 15:27.320 conduct humanitarian airdrops within 15:27.320 --> 15:29.690 Gaza . And should we get to the time 15:29.700 --> 15:31.867 and point where we're able to position 15:31.867 --> 15:33.922 this temporary pier off the coast of 15:33.922 --> 15:35.589 Gaza that will also help with 15:35.589 --> 15:37.422 humanitarian aid getting in or a 15:37.422 --> 15:39.644 question on Rafa to follow up on Friday 15:39.644 --> 15:41.756 and then a question on the soldier in 15:41.756 --> 15:43.756 Russia and in the discussions about 15:43.756 --> 15:43.460 what you call the general broad 15:43.469 --> 15:45.636 overview of , of Israel's Rafa plans . 15:46.090 --> 15:48.312 Was there discussion about this limited 15:48.312 --> 15:50.368 operation or was there no discussion 15:50.368 --> 15:52.534 about this previously with you between 15:52.534 --> 15:54.646 America and Israel ? So we don't have 15:54.646 --> 15:54.520 more to share in terms of the 15:54.530 --> 15:56.752 conversation between Minister Galan and 15:56.752 --> 15:58.869 Secretary Austin . Um But as you can 15:58.880 --> 16:01.809 appreciate they talk pretty regularly . 16:01.880 --> 16:04.047 Uh their conversations are already are 16:04.047 --> 16:06.200 very direct , um very frank with each 16:06.210 --> 16:08.432 other . Um But I'm just not going to go 16:08.432 --> 16:10.654 into more details on that . Um How soon 16:10.654 --> 16:12.766 Rafa could function again as , as one 16:12.766 --> 16:14.932 of the most important crossings ? That 16:14.932 --> 16:16.877 would be something for the for the 16:16.877 --> 16:16.099 Israeli government to speak to . I I 16:16.109 --> 16:18.053 can't speak to that . And then the 16:18.053 --> 16:20.276 follow up question on on staff , Gordon 16:20.276 --> 16:22.799 Black , is there any suspicion or 16:22.809 --> 16:25.330 concern that in his relationship with 16:25.340 --> 16:27.284 his Russian girlfriend or while in 16:27.284 --> 16:29.173 Russia , he compromised sensitive 16:29.173 --> 16:31.284 information . And is that part of the 16:31.284 --> 16:33.396 ongoing investigation ? I'd refer you 16:33.396 --> 16:35.562 to army for more information on that . 16:35.562 --> 16:35.489 As I mentioned , there is um an 16:35.500 --> 16:37.669 administrative investigation underway 16:37.799 --> 16:39.966 um to determine the facts to determine 16:39.966 --> 16:43.330 what exactly happened here , um the 16:43.340 --> 16:45.400 surrounding his travel , but I just 16:45.409 --> 16:47.631 don't have morphing on that . Yes , Joe 16:48.770 --> 16:50.770 Biden administration is required to 16:50.770 --> 16:53.030 notify Congress by tomorrow if Israel 16:53.380 --> 16:55.324 violated international law without 16:55.324 --> 16:58.289 humanitarian aid since October is a 16:58.299 --> 17:00.355 department . What's the department's 17:00.355 --> 17:02.410 assessment in terms of either one of 17:02.410 --> 17:04.521 those have they violated or have they 17:04.521 --> 17:04.239 withheld humanitarian aid ? So I 17:04.250 --> 17:06.910 believe you're referring to the NSM and 17:06.920 --> 17:09.031 that's something that I would have to 17:09.031 --> 17:10.976 refer you to state to speak to the 17:10.976 --> 17:13.050 Pentagon assessed that Israel has 17:13.060 --> 17:14.890 violated national law or with 17:15.030 --> 17:17.252 humanitarian . I don't have anything to 17:17.252 --> 17:19.419 add on to this one . This is something 17:19.419 --> 17:21.474 that the State Department is putting 17:21.474 --> 17:21.410 together . It's a report to Congress 17:21.420 --> 17:24.069 that is , you know , do every however 17:24.079 --> 17:26.190 many in increments , but I just don't 17:26.190 --> 17:28.357 have more at this time to offer on the 17:28.357 --> 17:30.523 NSM , in particular human rights watch 17:30.523 --> 17:32.635 came out with a report and said there 17:32.635 --> 17:35.619 was a March 27th attack on emergency 17:35.630 --> 17:38.250 and relief workers , several of them in 17:38.260 --> 17:41.800 southern Lebanon um by Israel and 17:42.329 --> 17:44.819 they say that a US made J Dam was used 17:44.829 --> 17:47.520 as well as a £500 Israeli bomb . Um It 17:47.530 --> 17:49.959 killed like I said , these several uh 17:49.969 --> 17:51.913 individuals who were civilians and 17:51.913 --> 17:54.080 there's been no evidence of a military 17:54.080 --> 17:56.302 target at the site . Are you guys aware 17:56.302 --> 17:58.359 of this ? Um , how close , I mean , 17:58.369 --> 18:00.425 we've seen , you've said before that 18:00.425 --> 18:02.202 there are no conditions on us , 18:02.202 --> 18:04.425 military weapons or weapons provided to 18:04.425 --> 18:06.480 Israel . Are you guys tracking these 18:06.480 --> 18:08.536 kinds of things at all ? And are you 18:08.536 --> 18:08.510 aware of this attack ? So I'm not going 18:08.520 --> 18:11.030 to get into specific incidents and I 18:11.040 --> 18:13.262 can't confirm those reports that you're 18:13.262 --> 18:15.373 citing us weapons being used . What I 18:15.373 --> 18:17.680 can tell you is that uh 18:18.910 --> 18:21.300 we have been very clear that we want to 18:21.310 --> 18:23.439 see Israel comply with humanitarian 18:23.449 --> 18:25.560 laws and the laws of armed conflict . 18:25.560 --> 18:27.780 Um This is something that it's an 18:27.920 --> 18:31.109 interagency process um that uh between 18:31.119 --> 18:33.341 the state department , other agencies , 18:33.341 --> 18:35.563 we are reviewing our findings will also 18:35.563 --> 18:37.786 go into the NSM . Um for more on that . 18:37.786 --> 18:40.008 I'm just not going to get ahead of that 18:40.008 --> 18:42.008 process as you can appreciate . I'd 18:42.008 --> 18:41.959 refer to the State Department just one 18:41.969 --> 18:44.670 last one . The uh the I has returned to 18:44.680 --> 18:48.310 the Red Sea . Um We saw a statement a 18:48.329 --> 18:50.551 couple , I guess a couple weeks ago now 18:50.551 --> 18:52.662 that it had gone into the sixth fleet 18:52.662 --> 18:54.718 into Europe . Can you say anything ? 18:54.718 --> 18:56.718 And then , you know , on April 23rd 18:56.718 --> 18:59.199 Centcom released or put out a tweet and 18:59.209 --> 19:01.819 said there were sixteens deployed to , 19:01.829 --> 19:04.380 to the A Aor didn't say specify where 19:04.390 --> 19:06.446 can you say anything about ? Can you 19:06.446 --> 19:08.420 give us any updates on this . Um I 19:08.430 --> 19:10.819 guess uh mission to counter deter the 19:11.040 --> 19:12.959 houthis is the IC . Has it been 19:12.969 --> 19:14.802 deployed ? Has it been , has the 19:14.802 --> 19:16.939 deployment been extended ? Um So I 19:16.949 --> 19:18.893 don't have anything for you on any 19:18.893 --> 19:21.005 changes to our force posture with the 19:21.005 --> 19:23.469 IC or anything additional . Um You have 19:23.510 --> 19:26.819 uh the positioning of our assets there 19:26.829 --> 19:29.709 for the exact reason to um help with 19:29.719 --> 19:32.510 deterrence . Um and our , and our , and 19:32.540 --> 19:34.707 our efforts when it comes to operation 19:34.707 --> 19:36.596 Prosperity Guardian , which is to 19:36.596 --> 19:38.818 ensure that commercial shipping through 19:38.818 --> 19:40.818 the Red Sea , that Ba M the Gulf of 19:40.818 --> 19:42.873 Aden can continue freely without the 19:42.873 --> 19:44.762 harassment of Houthi attacks . Um 19:44.762 --> 19:47.040 You've seen Centcom put out , you know , 19:47.040 --> 19:48.929 regular updates on when there are 19:48.929 --> 19:50.818 engagements . Um But I don't have 19:50.818 --> 19:52.984 anything more to , to read out at this 19:52.984 --> 19:55.349 time on the Ike Liz . Thanks . Um Last 19:55.359 --> 19:57.526 week , Secretary Austin told lawmakers 19:57.526 --> 19:59.748 he was concerned over a quote , lack of 19:59.748 --> 20:03.280 execution in terms of um Israel's plans 20:03.290 --> 20:06.069 to evacuate civilians from Gaza . Um Is 20:06.079 --> 20:07.968 that still the case ? Is he still 20:07.968 --> 20:10.190 concerned about the lack of execution ? 20:10.190 --> 20:12.412 I think we are concerned about any type 20:12.412 --> 20:14.900 of um ground operation , large ground 20:14.910 --> 20:16.966 operation within Rafah that does not 20:16.966 --> 20:18.854 take into account that very large 20:18.854 --> 20:21.000 civilian population . Uh So yes , the 20:21.010 --> 20:22.954 Secretary's words still absolutely 20:22.954 --> 20:25.189 stand to today from Joseph's question . 20:25.329 --> 20:27.839 Um So was the US si brought back into 20:27.849 --> 20:29.793 the Red Sea to counter the Houthis 20:29.793 --> 20:32.119 because there were increased attacks 20:32.130 --> 20:35.030 when it was in the Eastern Med II . I 20:35.040 --> 20:37.207 again , I don't have the , the list of 20:37.207 --> 20:39.373 attacks that happened when she was not 20:39.373 --> 20:41.540 in the Red Sea , but , you know , we , 20:41.540 --> 20:43.707 we have other partner nations that are 20:43.707 --> 20:45.540 part of operation , prosperity , 20:45.540 --> 20:47.651 Guardian and others that are not that 20:47.651 --> 20:49.873 were engaging when the houthis did fire 20:49.873 --> 20:51.984 attacks um , unlawfully at commercial 20:51.984 --> 20:54.640 vessels . Um I think I read out when , 20:54.650 --> 20:56.761 you know , when she , I said that she 20:56.761 --> 20:58.983 would be back soon , she has returned , 20:58.983 --> 21:01.094 but I just don't have more for you on 21:01.094 --> 21:03.428 um anything additional or any extension . 21:03.428 --> 21:05.372 Um I'm just gonna go to the phones 21:05.372 --> 21:07.594 before I forget and then come back into 21:07.594 --> 21:09.872 the , to the room here . Uh Jared Zuba , 21:09.872 --> 21:12.810 I'll monitor . Hi , Sabrina . Thanks 21:12.819 --> 21:15.339 for doing this . Um I understand that 21:15.349 --> 21:17.349 uh Israeli officials told the White 21:17.349 --> 21:19.405 House counterparts that last night's 21:19.405 --> 21:21.571 Rafah operation in Rafah was limited . 21:21.571 --> 21:23.905 Um But what preparations are you seeing ? 21:23.905 --> 21:26.071 Uh the Israeli military make , does it 21:26.071 --> 21:28.071 look like they're setting up for uh 21:28.071 --> 21:30.127 broader ground clearing major ground 21:30.127 --> 21:32.349 operations or does it look like they're 21:32.349 --> 21:34.405 preparing for something more precise 21:34.405 --> 21:36.460 and targeted and surgical ? Thanks . 21:36.460 --> 21:38.627 Thanks , Jared for the question . So , 21:38.627 --> 21:40.682 in terms of what they're doing their 21:40.682 --> 21:42.793 actual planning , um when it comes to 21:42.793 --> 21:42.380 any operation , I would refer you to 21:42.390 --> 21:44.810 the ID F to speak to that . Um What I 21:44.819 --> 21:47.041 can tell you . Um And I'm not trying to 21:47.041 --> 21:49.208 sound like a broken record here . What 21:49.208 --> 21:50.930 I can tell you is publicly and 21:50.930 --> 21:53.097 privately . We've been very clear that 21:53.097 --> 21:54.930 we do not support a large ground 21:54.930 --> 21:56.763 incursion in Tarafa given the um 21:57.109 --> 22:00.050 incredibly large civilian population 22:00.209 --> 22:02.640 that is currently sheltered there . Um 22:02.819 --> 22:04.930 And , and so , you know , I just have 22:04.930 --> 22:07.280 to reiterate that point again . Um All 22:07.290 --> 22:09.890 right . Uh Next question JJ Green WTO P . 22:13.260 --> 22:15.469 Hey Sabrina , thank you . Um Two quick 22:15.479 --> 22:18.079 questions about the uh staff sergeant 22:18.089 --> 22:20.479 black . Um First one , can you address 22:20.489 --> 22:22.880 the significance of an active duty 22:22.890 --> 22:25.819 service member being in Russian custody ? 22:25.869 --> 22:29.079 Given Russia's efforts to , I guess , 22:29.089 --> 22:30.978 essentially seek out and find and 22:30.978 --> 22:33.560 capture Americans and to use them for 22:33.569 --> 22:35.513 political purposes or geopolitical 22:35.513 --> 22:37.236 purposes . Can you address the 22:37.236 --> 22:39.347 significance ? First of a , an active 22:39.347 --> 22:41.569 duty US service member being in Russian 22:41.569 --> 22:44.439 custody ? Uh Thanks JJ . So 22:45.609 --> 22:48.650 be before I start going down . Um uh 22:48.660 --> 22:50.660 This line , I would just remind you 22:50.660 --> 22:52.716 that the army is looking into this . 22:52.716 --> 22:54.271 They have an administrative 22:54.271 --> 22:57.390 investigation underway to determine the 22:57.400 --> 22:59.400 facts and circumstances around this 22:59.400 --> 23:01.622 travel . Um You have to remember that , 23:01.622 --> 23:03.678 yes , this is an active duty service 23:03.678 --> 23:06.270 member , but he was on leave at the 23:06.280 --> 23:09.800 time . And so , uh you know , all we 23:09.810 --> 23:11.754 know is that he went to Russia for 23:11.754 --> 23:13.977 personal reasons . Um I don't have more 23:13.977 --> 23:16.199 to share as that is that the army is 23:16.209 --> 23:18.431 continuing to look into this incident . 23:18.431 --> 23:21.160 Um And for further questions on his 23:21.170 --> 23:23.479 condition or next steps , I'd refer you 23:23.489 --> 23:25.489 to the State Department for more on 23:25.489 --> 23:27.600 that . And I'm sorry , did you have a 23:27.600 --> 23:29.656 follow up ? You know , actually I'll 23:29.656 --> 23:31.878 skip that , but thank you for answering 23:31.878 --> 23:31.609 that question . All right , I'll come 23:31.630 --> 23:33.630 back in the room . Yes . Right over 23:33.630 --> 23:36.579 here , sir . The sorry , the CFI 23:36.859 --> 23:39.699 proposal that Hamas they said they will 23:39.709 --> 23:41.931 accept it is the same offer that's been 23:41.931 --> 23:44.510 on the table for a long time . And have 23:44.520 --> 23:47.030 you reviewed it with your partners ? So 23:47.040 --> 23:48.762 I would refer you to the State 23:48.762 --> 23:50.707 Department and as you are probably 23:50.707 --> 23:52.709 aware , um the bill burns is in the 23:52.719 --> 23:54.552 region and sort of leading these 23:54.552 --> 23:56.552 negotiations . So I I don't want to 23:56.552 --> 23:58.890 speak from here about um the ceasefire 23:58.900 --> 24:01.439 hostage negotiations that are taking 24:01.449 --> 24:03.782 place other than that they are underway . 24:03.782 --> 24:05.439 Um And you know , we have a 24:05.449 --> 24:07.616 representative at the table as well uh 24:07.616 --> 24:11.300 working to see um to ensure that 24:11.339 --> 24:13.283 that a ceasefire could be put into 24:13.283 --> 24:16.349 place if a cease , if a ceasefire were 24:16.359 --> 24:18.470 to be put into place , that obviously 24:18.470 --> 24:20.880 would increase chances of more 24:20.890 --> 24:23.890 humanitarian aid to get in to Gaza and 24:23.900 --> 24:25.900 of course , release more hostages , 24:25.900 --> 24:28.122 which is obviously something we want to 24:28.122 --> 24:30.233 see . Russia . Vladimir Putin ordered 24:30.233 --> 24:32.319 his forces to rehearse for a non 24:32.430 --> 24:35.119 strategic nuclear weapon . How do you 24:35.130 --> 24:38.709 look at it and have you seen any change 24:38.719 --> 24:42.660 in Russia's posture on nuclear ? How do 24:42.670 --> 24:45.060 we look at what Russia announced ? We 24:45.069 --> 24:46.569 look at that as completely 24:46.569 --> 24:49.439 irresponsible . We have not seen any 24:49.449 --> 24:51.282 reason to adjust our own nuclear 24:51.282 --> 24:53.530 posture . We haven't seen any 24:53.540 --> 24:55.707 indications that Russia plans to use a 24:55.707 --> 24:58.349 nuclear weapon , but it's deeply 24:58.359 --> 25:00.192 irresponsible and we're going to 25:00.192 --> 25:02.415 continue to monitor what's happening in 25:02.415 --> 25:04.748 the region . Yeah . Thank you , Sabrina . 25:04.748 --> 25:06.748 You've been saying for months now , 25:06.748 --> 25:08.970 this administration that you're against 25:08.970 --> 25:11.137 a major military operation of Rafa and 25:11.137 --> 25:12.979 they told over 100,000 people to 25:12.989 --> 25:15.300 evacuate in eastern Rafa . And that 25:15.310 --> 25:17.254 sounds like a lot of people . So , 25:17.254 --> 25:19.088 what's the definition of a major 25:19.088 --> 25:20.977 military operation ? What makes a 25:20.977 --> 25:23.088 limited military operation ? What's a 25:23.088 --> 25:25.254 major military operation ? Is there an 25:25.254 --> 25:27.477 acceptable number of civilians that can 25:27.477 --> 25:29.810 be put at greater risk for the Pentagon ? 25:29.810 --> 25:32.088 Like how , how do we know what's major ? 25:32.088 --> 25:34.400 Sure . Um , look as you can appreciate 25:34.410 --> 25:36.632 not going to get into more specifics on 25:36.632 --> 25:39.319 like their operations . And some of the 25:39.329 --> 25:41.589 things that they brief us on a major 25:41.599 --> 25:43.655 military operation would put at risk 25:43.655 --> 25:45.821 civilian lives , anything that puts at 25:45.821 --> 25:47.821 risk civilian lives within Rafah is 25:47.821 --> 25:50.155 something that we are not supportive of . 25:50.155 --> 25:52.210 We do not want to see a population , 25:52.210 --> 25:54.439 but over 1 million people who were , 25:54.469 --> 25:56.510 you know , directed there . Um When 25:56.520 --> 25:58.631 other operations were going on in the 25:58.631 --> 26:00.631 north and the west were forced into 26:00.631 --> 26:02.464 Rafah , we don't want to see the 26:02.464 --> 26:04.687 civilian population put at risk knowing 26:04.687 --> 26:07.339 that also there is um uh tremendous 26:07.349 --> 26:09.405 hurdles of also getting humanitarian 26:09.405 --> 26:11.810 aid in medical supplies in . And so any 26:11.819 --> 26:14.469 type of military operation must take 26:14.479 --> 26:16.959 into account that large concentration 26:16.969 --> 26:18.858 of civilians . And right now , we 26:18.858 --> 26:20.969 haven't seen a cred , we , we need to 26:20.969 --> 26:23.136 see a credible plan that would protect 26:23.136 --> 26:25.025 those civilians . Um And so we're 26:25.025 --> 26:27.025 continuing to urge and speak to our 26:27.025 --> 26:29.191 Israeli counterparts about that plan . 26:29.191 --> 26:31.247 Um , and I'll just say about that so 26:31.247 --> 26:33.469 that , you know , over 100,000 people 26:33.479 --> 26:35.535 were taught to leave the area . That 26:35.535 --> 26:37.535 sounds like an alarming development 26:37.535 --> 26:39.868 because they can be put at greater risk . 26:39.868 --> 26:42.979 So this line that's drawn in the sand . 26:42.989 --> 26:44.822 How do you make sure that Israel 26:44.822 --> 26:47.045 doesn't cross that ? Yeah , again , I'm 26:47.045 --> 26:49.211 not putting a specific number on it on 26:49.211 --> 26:51.322 like how many people or need to leave 26:51.322 --> 26:53.390 or how many , uh you know , what a 26:53.400 --> 26:55.233 large scale operation looks like 26:55.233 --> 26:57.344 because I'm not going to detail their 26:57.344 --> 26:59.567 own plans and what they share with us . 26:59.567 --> 27:01.789 That's something for them to speak to . 27:01.789 --> 27:03.956 What I can tell you is we have a large 27:03.956 --> 27:03.199 population of civilians that are 27:03.209 --> 27:05.265 sheltered in Rafah . They need to be 27:05.265 --> 27:07.153 protected if there is any type of 27:07.153 --> 27:09.780 operation or any type of major ground 27:09.790 --> 27:13.079 incursion um in into Rafa . And um we 27:13.089 --> 27:15.200 want to see those civilians protected 27:15.200 --> 27:17.089 and to move over 1 million people 27:17.930 --> 27:20.109 that's gonna take a lot of time . So , 27:20.219 --> 27:22.349 uh we're , we're continuing to work 27:22.359 --> 27:24.729 with our Israeli counterparts . Um And 27:24.739 --> 27:26.906 I'll just leave it at that . Yeah , in 27:26.906 --> 27:29.719 the back Carla , thanks . I uh vo I was 27:29.729 --> 27:32.569 told by a US military official that uh 27:32.579 --> 27:35.459 in , that some of the diplomatic 27:35.469 --> 27:37.802 clearances for flights have been denied , 27:37.930 --> 27:40.097 that's forced extended deployments the 27:40.097 --> 27:41.819 day to day life sustainment is 27:41.819 --> 27:44.097 continuing very via commercial contact . 27:44.097 --> 27:46.829 Uh , contract transportation . These 27:46.839 --> 27:48.839 raise a lot of questions . I mean , 27:48.839 --> 27:50.950 what's going on with the US forces in 27:50.950 --> 27:53.172 right now ? Are they allowed to leave ? 27:53.172 --> 27:55.283 Are they getting the medical supplies 27:55.283 --> 27:57.172 and equipment and ammunition , et 27:57.172 --> 27:59.395 cetera ? Everything that they need ? Uh 27:59.395 --> 28:01.561 And why is , what reason is giving the 28:01.561 --> 28:03.672 Pentagon for why they're denying some 28:03.672 --> 28:05.895 of the diplomatic clearances ? I direct 28:05.895 --> 28:08.117 you to the CNSP to speak to why they're 28:08.117 --> 28:08.050 denying some of the diplomatic 28:08.060 --> 28:11.979 clearances . Um We are working 28:11.989 --> 28:14.750 with the CNSP on what our orderly 28:14.760 --> 28:17.359 withdrawal looks like . Um As of right 28:17.369 --> 28:20.099 now , our forces in still continue to 28:20.109 --> 28:22.239 have access to the necessary food , 28:22.250 --> 28:24.583 water , medical supplies that they need . 28:24.609 --> 28:26.665 Um But this is of course , something 28:26.665 --> 28:28.989 that we are working towards on what 28:29.000 --> 28:31.056 that orderly withdrawal looks like . 28:31.056 --> 28:33.167 There have been some cases where some 28:33.167 --> 28:35.167 of our service members have um have 28:35.167 --> 28:38.479 left um for unforeseen 28:38.489 --> 28:42.250 circumstances . Um Right now , as I 28:42.260 --> 28:45.349 think we briefed um a few weeks ago , 28:45.359 --> 28:47.930 we will have another delegation led by 28:47.939 --> 28:50.106 someone from the Department of Defense 28:50.106 --> 28:52.328 that will go to Nyame to continue these 28:52.328 --> 28:54.106 conversations about the orderly 28:54.106 --> 28:56.290 withdrawal that um visit hasn't 28:56.300 --> 28:58.411 happened yet . So until that does and 28:58.411 --> 29:01.930 until um parameters are put around for 29:01.939 --> 29:04.106 these negotiations on what the orderly 29:04.106 --> 29:06.300 withdrawal looks like . Um We're still 29:06.310 --> 29:08.477 in a bit of this holding pattern until 29:08.477 --> 29:11.119 we can have those conversations uh real 29:11.130 --> 29:14.400 quickly on Russia . Um There have been 29:14.410 --> 29:17.109 requests uh for the Pentagon to kind of 29:17.119 --> 29:19.729 detail how Russia is able to use 29:19.739 --> 29:21.869 Starlink because Starlink is also 29:21.880 --> 29:24.920 contracted with dod . Um Do you have 29:24.930 --> 29:27.319 any details to provide on how Russia is 29:27.329 --> 29:29.551 able to use that on the battlefield and 29:29.551 --> 29:31.718 what the Pentagon and others are doing 29:31.718 --> 29:33.940 to try to prevent that from happening ? 29:33.940 --> 29:35.829 I don't have anything specific on 29:35.829 --> 29:38.051 Russia using Starlink as you know , our 29:38.051 --> 29:40.162 our contract with Starlink is for the 29:40.162 --> 29:42.218 Ukrainians to use , but I don't have 29:42.218 --> 29:44.385 anything more specific on Russia using 29:44.385 --> 29:46.440 starlink , Rio . Thanks so much . My 29:46.440 --> 29:48.662 question is about the South China Sea . 29:48.662 --> 29:50.829 Um Recently , we have seen the Chinese 29:50.829 --> 29:52.940 dangerous options towards Philippines 29:52.940 --> 29:54.662 vessels , but recently Chinese 29:54.662 --> 29:56.607 government argued that there was a 29:56.607 --> 29:58.662 temporary special agreement with the 29:58.662 --> 30:00.881 former Philippine President Duterte in 30:00.891 --> 30:04.302 2016 and about the restricted 30:04.312 --> 30:07.141 access by Philippine vessels . Um and 30:07.151 --> 30:09.261 China accused the Philippine side of 30:09.271 --> 30:11.572 the recent tensions . So , can I ask 30:11.582 --> 30:13.860 for your comment on this Chinese crane ? 30:14.031 --> 30:16.212 Are you talking about like the firing 30:16.222 --> 30:18.111 of water can and things like that 30:18.111 --> 30:20.278 towards Philippine vessels ? Yes . And 30:20.278 --> 30:22.166 the China claims that there was a 30:22.251 --> 30:25.510 hidden agreement um with the Philippine 30:25.520 --> 30:29.060 side . Uh I'm not exactly clear or 30:29.069 --> 30:30.959 maybe not understanding about an 30:30.969 --> 30:33.025 agreement that you're referring to , 30:33.025 --> 30:35.199 but of course , we continue to monitor 30:35.209 --> 30:37.542 what's happening in the South China Sea . 30:37.542 --> 30:39.765 We continue to uh be alarmed when these 30:39.765 --> 30:42.030 incidents happen . Um whether it be 30:42.040 --> 30:44.530 with uh Philippine vessels or other 30:44.540 --> 30:46.989 vessels , um We want to be able to see 30:47.000 --> 30:49.829 the , you know , the , the um freedom 30:49.839 --> 30:51.783 of navigation to be upheld . So of 30:51.783 --> 30:53.783 course , we're going to continue to 30:53.783 --> 30:55.950 monitor uh what's happening there with 30:55.950 --> 30:58.117 our partners and allies . Yeah , thank 30:58.117 --> 31:00.189 you . Uh My question is about um 31:00.410 --> 31:03.770 another country in Africa , Chad . Um 31:03.780 --> 31:06.280 Could you give me the update on the 31:06.290 --> 31:09.469 situation in Chad ? Has the withdrawal 31:09.479 --> 31:11.910 of the , um has the withdrawal 31:11.920 --> 31:14.390 withdrawn been completed or are there 31:14.400 --> 31:17.119 any us personnel remaining in the 31:17.130 --> 31:19.780 country ? Um Thanks for the question . 31:19.790 --> 31:21.790 So I actually don't have much of an 31:21.790 --> 31:24.012 update other than what we provided last 31:24.012 --> 31:26.068 week , which is that there were some 31:26.068 --> 31:28.329 military personnel that did uh uh leave 31:28.339 --> 31:30.172 the country , some of which were 31:30.172 --> 31:32.550 already scheduled to rotate out . Um We 31:32.560 --> 31:34.782 do still have military personnel in the 31:34.782 --> 31:37.004 country at the embassy . Um But I don't 31:37.004 --> 31:39.171 have more of an update for you on that 31:39.171 --> 31:41.227 other than that's basically where we 31:41.227 --> 31:43.338 were last week . So the situation has 31:43.338 --> 31:45.449 not been changed um because there was 31:45.449 --> 31:47.560 on a presidential election . Uh Yes . 31:48.920 --> 31:50.476 Yeah , we're continuing our 31:50.476 --> 31:52.698 conversations with the government , but 31:52.698 --> 31:54.920 I just don't have more to share at this 31:54.920 --> 31:54.660 time . I'll come back in a sec . Let me 31:54.670 --> 31:56.670 just go . Uh I have two more on the 31:56.670 --> 31:58.892 phones . And then happy to come back in 31:58.892 --> 32:01.003 the room , uh Heather us and I thanks 32:01.003 --> 32:03.226 so much . Um , so the houthis have said 32:03.226 --> 32:05.719 that they're going to stop all ships 32:05.729 --> 32:07.840 that enter their operation or zone of 32:07.840 --> 32:10.160 operation in the Red Sea . Um , so I 32:10.170 --> 32:12.459 have as well as uh target ships that 32:12.469 --> 32:14.302 they can reach with any of their 32:14.302 --> 32:16.358 weapons including in the meds . So I 32:16.358 --> 32:18.636 have two questions . The first is , uh , 32:18.636 --> 32:20.691 if there's been any talk of updating 32:20.880 --> 32:23.199 the presence in the Red Sea in order to 32:23.209 --> 32:25.376 come this latest threat . And then the 32:25.376 --> 32:27.320 second one , is there any concerns 32:27.320 --> 32:29.655 about or I guess how is the US prepared 32:29.665 --> 32:31.776 to protect ships that are going to be 32:31.776 --> 32:33.694 bringing in aid in the med to the 32:33.704 --> 32:35.925 temporary pier uh from any potential 32:35.935 --> 32:38.046 Houthi attacks , considering that the 32:38.046 --> 32:40.102 Houthis might not recognize those as 32:40.102 --> 32:42.324 aid ships versus commercial ships going 32:42.324 --> 32:44.760 towards Israel . Ok . Thanks Heather 32:44.770 --> 32:46.714 for the question . I I , well , we 32:46.714 --> 32:48.770 candid , I missed a bit of the first 32:48.770 --> 32:50.659 part but um in terms of aid ships 32:50.659 --> 32:53.390 getting into to the Eastern Med and 32:53.400 --> 32:55.122 you're talking about aid being 32:55.122 --> 32:57.233 transported from the floating pier to 32:57.233 --> 32:59.189 the causeway . Um as we have said 32:59.199 --> 33:01.421 before , we have assurances from the ID 33:01.421 --> 33:03.643 F that they would be providing security 33:03.643 --> 33:07.170 around um around that transport . So 33:07.180 --> 33:10.599 whether it's uh uh any attacks from any 33:10.609 --> 33:13.849 group , um The ID F uh of course , will 33:13.859 --> 33:17.130 be providing that um security in terms 33:17.140 --> 33:19.140 of um And I I apologies . I , I did 33:19.140 --> 33:21.307 miss a little bit of the first part of 33:21.307 --> 33:23.251 your question . Um In terms of any 33:23.251 --> 33:25.349 posture changes um in the Red Sea , 33:25.609 --> 33:27.665 there are no posture changes again , 33:27.665 --> 33:29.989 operation , prosperity , Guardian . Um 33:30.000 --> 33:32.469 Is uh something that continues to work 33:32.479 --> 33:34.510 every single day in a coalition to 33:34.520 --> 33:36.353 ensure the freedom of navigation 33:36.353 --> 33:38.353 through the Red Sea and the Gulf of 33:38.353 --> 33:40.489 Aden . Um I don't have any posture 33:40.500 --> 33:42.611 changes to announce today from , from 33:42.611 --> 33:44.556 the podium . Uh ok . And then last 33:44.556 --> 33:46.722 question from the phone , I'm happy to 33:46.722 --> 33:46.599 come back in the room . Uh Jeff Shool 33:46.790 --> 33:49.329 task and purpose . Thank you . I 33:49.339 --> 33:51.339 understand the army has launched an 33:51.339 --> 33:53.959 administrative investigation into staff 33:53.969 --> 33:57.239 Sergeant Black . Um I'm just um 33:57.329 --> 34:00.880 curious , does dod have any indications 34:00.890 --> 34:03.920 that he may have been lured to Russia 34:03.930 --> 34:06.119 as part of an effort by Russian 34:06.130 --> 34:09.029 intelligence to detain him . Jeff . I 34:09.039 --> 34:11.095 appreciate the question . Uh This is 34:11.095 --> 34:13.428 something that the army is looking into , 34:13.428 --> 34:15.261 which is why they've been , uh , 34:15.261 --> 34:17.317 they've launched an investigation to 34:17.317 --> 34:16.938 determine the facts and the 34:16.948 --> 34:19.115 circumstances of his travel and I just 34:19.115 --> 34:21.337 don't have anything more to add at this 34:21.337 --> 34:23.337 time . Uh Happy to come back in the 34:23.337 --> 34:25.504 room . Ok . We'll do two more show and 34:25.504 --> 34:27.559 three more media is showing pictures 34:27.559 --> 34:29.726 that General Carilla is in Egypt . Can 34:29.726 --> 34:31.948 you tell us what he's doing there ? And 34:31.948 --> 34:34.409 if he has any other uh schedule , I'd 34:34.419 --> 34:36.689 refer you to Sam for more details . Um 34:36.699 --> 34:39.080 I don't have more on his travel . He 34:39.090 --> 34:41.257 does you , you know , regularly travel 34:41.257 --> 34:43.479 to the region . I think he was there if 34:43.479 --> 34:45.646 not last week , the week before . Um , 34:45.646 --> 34:47.646 but I don't know his other schedule 34:47.646 --> 34:49.479 stops , but Sam would be able to 34:49.479 --> 34:49.250 provide that information , would be 34:49.290 --> 34:51.401 able to tell me if that's any part of 34:51.401 --> 34:53.457 uh Director Burns's travel to the to 34:53.457 --> 34:56.969 Egypt as well today . Not , not to my 34:56.979 --> 35:00.949 awareness . No . So my question 35:00.959 --> 35:03.229 about this Israeli invasion of , of 35:03.399 --> 35:05.732 Rafa , you said it's your understanding , 35:05.732 --> 35:07.843 this is a limited operation . It aims 35:07.843 --> 35:10.070 to or at uh cutting off Hamas 35:10.080 --> 35:12.149 capabilities or ability to smuggle 35:12.159 --> 35:15.530 weapons and money . Um However , the 35:15.540 --> 35:17.596 process of bringing humanitarian aid 35:17.596 --> 35:19.596 through Rafah is controlled by both 35:19.596 --> 35:22.439 Egypt and Israel and Israelis do screen 35:22.659 --> 35:24.992 uh shipments before they get into Rafah . 35:25.639 --> 35:29.300 Um Were you presented by any 35:29.510 --> 35:33.149 information from Israel that proves 35:33.159 --> 35:36.560 that still Hamas has the ability to 35:36.570 --> 35:38.909 smuggle weapons and money through Rafa 35:39.780 --> 35:42.429 so far is that international 35:42.439 --> 35:44.399 organizations including the U and 35:44.409 --> 35:46.840 Humanitarian and NGOS have been 35:46.850 --> 35:49.739 complaining about Israel 35:50.239 --> 35:53.379 measures that are delaying the entry of 35:53.389 --> 35:56.149 humanitarian aid to through screening 35:56.159 --> 35:58.370 and other steps . I think we've also 35:58.379 --> 36:00.212 been very public in our , in our 36:00.212 --> 36:03.879 process to control them . Let me just 36:04.050 --> 36:07.439 finish . So , so we've been very public 36:07.449 --> 36:10.129 and called from this podium from other 36:10.139 --> 36:13.719 podiums across you know , the inner 36:13.729 --> 36:15.507 agency that we want to see more 36:15.507 --> 36:19.469 humanitarian aid get into Gaza . Um It 36:19.479 --> 36:22.250 was directed by the president , um that 36:22.260 --> 36:24.479 we set up a maritime corridor to surge 36:24.489 --> 36:26.822 aid in because not enough is getting in . 36:26.822 --> 36:28.989 So we also are concerned with how much 36:28.989 --> 36:31.439 aid is getting in to Gaza . And that's 36:31.449 --> 36:33.560 also why you've seen Centcom take the 36:33.560 --> 36:35.560 measures that they have to do these 36:35.560 --> 36:38.810 airdrops . Um So I , I just , I 36:38.820 --> 36:40.820 appreciate the question but I think 36:40.820 --> 36:42.919 also you have to remember that this 36:42.929 --> 36:44.873 government has been calling for it 36:44.873 --> 36:48.100 repeatedly . We want to see more um to 36:48.110 --> 36:50.889 your question on Hamas and being able 36:50.899 --> 36:53.580 to smuggle weapons . Um 36:54.889 --> 36:57.000 Unfortunately , I just can't speak to 36:57.000 --> 36:59.111 the intelligence on that . But what I 36:59.111 --> 37:01.222 can tell you is that we're continuing 37:01.222 --> 37:03.500 to monitor the situation on the ground . 37:03.500 --> 37:06.050 We've been very clear about um any type 37:06.060 --> 37:08.116 of large scale incursion in Tarafa . 37:08.116 --> 37:10.300 And we know we know how large that 37:10.310 --> 37:12.469 population is down there and we know 37:12.479 --> 37:14.757 how dire the humanitarian situation is . 37:14.757 --> 37:16.989 So we do not want to see a large scale 37:17.000 --> 37:20.100 ground incursion in Tarafa . Um Again , 37:20.110 --> 37:22.054 we're continuing to monitor what's 37:22.054 --> 37:24.054 happening on the ground . This just 37:24.054 --> 37:26.054 happened earlier , you know , early 37:26.054 --> 37:28.277 hours this morning . Um So I just don't 37:28.277 --> 37:30.554 have more , more to share at this time . 37:30.554 --> 37:32.499 So I , I understand and , and your 37:32.499 --> 37:34.610 point is well taken , I'm not talking 37:34.610 --> 37:36.832 about the US government effort to bring 37:36.832 --> 37:39.290 in more uh aid or uh complaining about . 37:40.270 --> 37:42.820 But this shows the contradiction which 37:42.830 --> 37:46.070 is to say Israel is in control of what 37:46.080 --> 37:48.860 flows or does not flow into Gaza 37:48.870 --> 37:51.139 without controlling Rafah where they 37:51.149 --> 37:53.482 actually had that incursion or invasion ? 37:53.790 --> 37:56.719 So are you taking what the Israelis are 37:56.729 --> 37:59.449 providing you at face value in terms of 37:59.459 --> 38:01.929 the aim of this operation is to cut off 38:01.939 --> 38:04.560 their ability to smuggle weapons and 38:04.570 --> 38:06.792 money or are you going to actually look 38:06.792 --> 38:08.792 into those allegations ? We believe 38:08.792 --> 38:10.848 what they are saying that this was a 38:10.848 --> 38:12.903 limited operation that it was to cut 38:12.903 --> 38:16.330 off the movement the traffic of 38:16.340 --> 38:19.080 weapons into Gaza through the Rafah 38:19.090 --> 38:21.201 crossing . But again , it's something 38:21.201 --> 38:23.423 that we're going to continue to monitor 38:23.423 --> 38:25.534 this just happened um , earlier , you 38:25.534 --> 38:27.757 know , a few hours ago . So , uh let us 38:27.757 --> 38:29.979 continue to monitor what's happening on 38:29.979 --> 38:32.090 the ground . Aaron last question with 38:32.090 --> 38:33.923 Israel , you keep using the word 38:33.923 --> 38:36.459 ironclad , but now how , how is it such 38:36.469 --> 38:39.479 an ironclad relationship when we have , 38:39.489 --> 38:42.250 um , we're expected to delay the 38:42.260 --> 38:44.879 shipment of munitions there . So what 38:44.889 --> 38:46.889 makes it so ironclad now that we're 38:46.889 --> 38:49.209 delaying shipments ? Well , what makes 38:49.219 --> 38:51.552 it ironclad ? Erin is since October 7th ? 38:51.552 --> 38:53.552 You've seen this government surge , 38:53.552 --> 38:55.719 humanitarian , security assistance and 38:55.719 --> 38:58.550 humanitarian support to Israel . Um So , 38:59.149 --> 39:01.399 so let me , let me just finish . So 39:01.979 --> 39:03.923 you've seen us continue to support 39:03.923 --> 39:06.090 Israel . I don't need to remind you of 39:06.090 --> 39:08.146 the attack that happened a few weeks 39:08.146 --> 39:10.312 ago . Um on Israel from Iran where the 39:10.312 --> 39:12.320 US partnered with Israel and other 39:12.330 --> 39:14.989 coalition forces to defeat that attack . 39:15.149 --> 39:17.830 Um Again , I don't have a comment on 39:17.840 --> 39:20.007 specific cases or shipments . But what 39:20.007 --> 39:22.118 I can tell you is through our actions 39:22.118 --> 39:24.062 and through what you've seen since 39:24.062 --> 39:26.229 October 7th , that's what we mean when 39:26.229 --> 39:28.284 our commitment to Israel is ironclad 39:28.284 --> 39:30.284 because we continue to stand by our 39:30.284 --> 39:32.507 partner and ally in their fight against 39:32.507 --> 39:34.673 a terrorist organization who continues 39:34.673 --> 39:36.896 to use civilians as human shields . But 39:36.896 --> 39:38.979 we also have hard conversations with 39:38.989 --> 39:40.767 our friends and that's what you 39:40.767 --> 39:42.989 continue to see the secretary do at his 39:42.989 --> 39:45.489 level and others across this um across 39:45.500 --> 39:47.919 the inter agency do as well . So 39:47.929 --> 39:50.649 yesterday morning , uh with general 39:50.659 --> 39:52.881 writer , he said that we had not seen a 39:52.881 --> 39:56.340 detailed plan about Rafa , um was , had 39:56.350 --> 39:59.250 we seen any plan prior to them uh 39:59.260 --> 40:01.689 entering Rafa ? Well , as I mentioned , 40:01.699 --> 40:03.588 and a few weeks ago , there was a 40:03.588 --> 40:05.588 delegation that was here that , you 40:05.588 --> 40:07.532 know , briefed us broadly on their 40:07.532 --> 40:10.209 plans for Rafa . Um We have continued 40:10.219 --> 40:13.550 to engage um uh the Israelis and I 40:13.560 --> 40:15.782 think there was a read out at that time 40:15.782 --> 40:17.893 from the White House on some of those 40:17.893 --> 40:19.782 meetings . Um We're continuing to 40:19.782 --> 40:21.782 engage our Israeli counterparts . I 40:21.782 --> 40:23.949 just don't have more to share on their 40:23.949 --> 40:26.560 plans , not the delegation , but 40:26.570 --> 40:29.020 yesterday before they entered , did we 40:29.030 --> 40:31.141 know that they were going to go , had 40:31.149 --> 40:33.399 they talked to Secretary Austin prior 40:33.409 --> 40:35.576 to entering a couple of hours before ? 40:35.600 --> 40:37.544 Yeah , I think I answered that , I 40:37.544 --> 40:39.767 think or , and answered , uh asked that 40:39.767 --> 40:41.989 question , look , I'm just not going to 40:41.989 --> 40:41.439 get into private , more details on the 40:41.449 --> 40:43.282 private conversations between uh 40:43.282 --> 40:45.505 Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant . 40:45.600 --> 40:48.219 Um Those conversations do happen often . 40:48.229 --> 40:50.340 They're frank , they're very direct . 40:50.370 --> 40:52.370 Um And I'll just leave it at that . 40:52.580 --> 40:54.802 They're listening to Secretary Austin . 40:54.802 --> 40:56.913 I do , I do actually think that and , 40:56.913 --> 40:59.439 and the reason why is because since the 40:59.449 --> 41:02.050 beginning , we have seen the Israelis , 41:02.060 --> 41:05.449 the ID F make decisions that have been 41:05.459 --> 41:06.959 influenced and impacted by 41:06.959 --> 41:09.015 conversations with the secretary and 41:09.015 --> 41:11.181 other people across this um department 41:11.181 --> 41:13.403 and the agent , the interagency . Um So 41:13.403 --> 41:15.126 yes , we do feel like they are 41:15.126 --> 41:16.040 listening . Ok , thanks everyone .