U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has arrived in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv to meet with senior government leaders and see firsthand some of the U.S. weapons and security assistance that Washington rapidly delivered to Israel in the first week of its war with Gaza's militant Hamas rulers. Austin's quick trip on Friday comes a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the region. Blinken is continuing the frantic diplomacy to avert an expanded regional conflict. Defense officials said that Austin wants to underscore America’s unwavering support for the people of Israel and that the U.S. is committed to making sure the country has what it needs to defend itself.
