US Military Ready to Act if New Participants Emerge in Conflict: Lloyd Austin

The US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has stated that the armed forces are prepared to "act" if another country intervenes in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, alluding to Iran.

"If any country or group seeks to expand this conflict, my advice is that they should not attempt to do so," he said during an interview with ABC News.

Austin emphasized that the United States has the right to defend itself and is ready to take "appropriate actions" without hesitation.