Pentagon chief Austin to host Israeli defense minister next week

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will host Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant next week for a bilateral meeting at the U.S. Defense Department, an American defense official.

The meeting comes after Austin recently invited Gallant for a visit and is separate from Monday's announcement that followed a call between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who agreed to send a team of senior officials to Washington to discuss developments regarding the war in Gaza, the official added.