DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY SABRINA SINGH: Good morning, everyone. I have just a few things at the top and then happy to jump in and take your questions. Yesterday, Secretary Austin spoke by phone with Israel's Minister of Defense Gallant about the escalation of violence in northern Israel over the weekend, as well as the Iran backed Houthi ballistic missile attack against Israel on September 15th.
During the call, Secretary Austin reaffirmed the United States'Â ironclad commitment to Israel's security and its right to self-defense. The secretary also reiterated the urgent need for a ceasefire and hostage deal. He stressed that Israel should give diplomatic negotiations time to succeed, noting the devastating consequences that escalation would have on the people of Israel, Lebanon, and the broader region. And a full readout will be posted on defense.gov.
Switching gears, the DOD and the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Niger announced today that the withdrawal of US forces and assets from Niger is complete. This process began on May 19th following the mutually established withdrawal conditions. The effective cooperation and communication between the United States and Nigerian armed forces ensured that the safe, orderly and responsible withdrawal was completed without complications by the mutually decided date of September 15th, 2024.
And last, over the weekend, you may have seen press releases from NORAD that Russian aircraft were spotted on multiple days operating in the Alaska Defense Identification Zone, or ADIZ. In all cases, the Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace.
I want to echo what NORAD said in their releases, that these activities are not unusual and are not seen as a threat. And as you may recall, last week we briefed that Russia is scheduled to conduct a number of exercises in mid-September. The US has been tracking these planned exercises for some time, and they pose no threat to the US homeland or the NATO alliance. We'll continue to monitor, as evidenced by NORAD's activities over the weekend, and will remain in close communication with our NATO allies and partners.
With that, I'm happy to take your questions. Tara?
Q: Thanks, Sabrina. Just wondering if the department has seen any additional fallout from the Israeli raid in Syria about a week ago, and if, in his call with Gallant, that raid was brought up?
MS. SINGH: I don't have more details to provide on the call other than what I provided at the top. I think the biggest thing that I can tell you, and reiterate, is that the secretary reiterated the need for a ceasefire deal. That is the best way for tensions in the region to subside, and of course to bring hostages home back to their loved ones. You know, we're coming up close to a year, so that was something that was discussed at length.
Q: I don't remember if I've asked this before, but was the secretary given advance notice by Gallant about the raid?
MS. SINGH: I don't have any details to provide for you on that.
Q: Okay.
MS. SINGH: Great. Hello?
Q: A couple questions. So, first, there were some reports from Syria of drones being shot down in Hasakah by US forces yesterday. Do you have anything on that?
MS. SINGH: I've seen some of that reporting. I don't. I'd refer you to CENTCOM on that. I'm sorry. I just don't have any details to provide.
Q: And this may fall into the same category, but the Houthis are claiming this morning that they shot down multiple MQ-9s over the past week. Do you have any details?
MS. SINGH: Saw that -- saw those reports as well. I'd refer you to CENTCOM. But it is something that we are looking into, so hopefully we'll have more to provide. But CENTCOM should be your first place to go for that.
Q: And then lastly, what was the day of the -- or the specific date of the -- when the last US forces left there Niger? Was it yesterday?
MS. SINGH: Yesterday, the 15th. The press release just went out on the 16th. But the last date for US forces to leave Niger was the 15th, and there is now just your standard embassy presence there. But for other US forces, the withdrawal was completed on the 15th.
Q: Ok. Thank you.
MS. SINGH: Konstantin?
Q: Thanks, Sabrina. On Friday, I think it was, the Venezuelan government officials said they arrested a bunch of folks, including three Americans, and they say a Navy SEAL was among this group. There were reports, obviously, a few weeks ago of a Navy SEAL being detained. I guess, A, how many Navy SEALs are detained in Venezuela at this point? And can you respond to the allegations that they were leading a coup or an attempted coup?
MS. SINGH: Yeah, I can definitely tell you that the US is not involved in any attempted coup, and I think the State Department has spoken pretty extensively on that. So, I'd refer you to State also for some of their comments.
I am only tracking that there is one sailor currently in custody with Venezuelan authorities. I believe that is probably the individual that they are referring to as well, but aware that two other US citizens were also arrested and in custody. But, as you know, the State Department is in the lead for on this right now, so any other questions on their condition or any conversations, I'd refer you to State.
Q: Thank you.
MS. SINGH: Okay, go ahead. Yeah, Ellee?
Q: I -- was there any other ISIS activity over the weekend? Any US -- any raids or strikes involving US forces against ISIS?
MS. SINGH: You know, Ellee, I don't want to misspeak, so I think CENTCOM will have more. But we can take that question and come back to you. Yeah, Haley?
Q: Thanks. On the NORAD Russian aircraft situation, you're saying is not unusual, but it seems like there has been multiple in the last week or two.
MS. SINGH: Yeah.
Q: Is this -- I mean, it seems like it's an uptick. Are you all seeing an uptick in this kind of activity? What is kind of the assessment there of why that's happening?
MS. SINGH: I don't know that it's an uptick. I mean, last week we did brief that the Russians had scheduled, you know, more exercises in the mid-September range. And, you know, we're not seeing incursions into our own airspace or Canadian airspace. So, I don't know that it's an uptick. It's more just for awareness in that, you know, we're calling attention to it and so that folks aren't alarmed by this.
But I -- for, like, a side-by-side comparison on how it, you know, tracks with other years, I'm sure NORTHCOM would have some of that, or NORAD would have more of that data. But I don't know that we'd see it as an uptick. But I would -- you know, I don't want to misspeak, so I'd refer you to them.
Yeah. Waffa?
Q: Sabrina, back to the Houthis attack yesterday, so what's your assessment today of the Houthis' capabilities? Are they capable to produce hypersonic missiles? They're claiming that they used hypersonic missile in yesterday's attack. And also, why do you think -- what's your assessment of how the Israelis couldn't intercept this attack?
MS. SINGH: Well, what I would say is, we assess this to be a ballistic missile that was used. In terms of the interception, I think you've seen Israel intercept missiles that have either come from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen or from other regions, you know, surrounding the country, and they've been pretty successful at being able to engage those missiles.
I don't exactly know -- you know, I've seen competing reports on how the missile was taken down. I think at the end of the day people were not injured, and that's what's important. But I'd refer you to the Israelis to speak more to how they brought down that missile.
I think in terms of the Houthis, I mean, they certainly have advanced capabilities. And we're -- and that's not something that we've shied away from talking about. When they first started launching their attacks, you know, they were able to -- they have sophisticated ways of targeting, whether it be ships or targeting towards Israel.
And that's why we take the threat of the Houthis very seriously. That's why, we -- Operation Prosperity Guardian is in response to some of the Houthi activity that we've seen, especially launched at commercial ships in the Red Sea. So, they have capabilities that are pretty significant.
And you've seen us continue to conduct dynamic strikes. You know, I don't know if daily, but, you see those releases go out from CENTCOM, and then you have Prosperity Guardian also continuing to operate. So, we certainly understand the threat that the Houthis posed to the wider region and to our forces and to Israel as well.
MS. SINGH: Yeah, of course. Yes, Ryo?
Q: Thank you, Sabrina. My question is about the US-China dialog following the different policy coordination talks. And I think DOD expects PLA's southern theater commander will participate in the Chiefs of Defense Conference in Hawaii next week. So, what do you think of the participation of PLA commander in this conference, and what kind of discussions do you expect?
MS. SINGH: You're talking about the one that's coming up?
Q: Yeah.
MS. SINGH: So, we certainly welcome -- you know, when it comes to mil to mil ties, we want to see that increase and increase communication between the PRC and the United States. I don't have anything more in terms of attendance.
But, what I can tell you is from the very beginning of when the first summit happened that President Biden led in California, you've seen an increase in communications at all different levels between our government, and that's a good thing.
So, I'm not going to get ahead of what's to come next week. But I certainly think that any type of ongoing communication in mil-to-mil channels or, you know, at the secretary's level or at other inter agencies, that is a good thing, and we want to see that continue. Phil?
Q: Hi. Just back to the Houthis really quick.
MS. SINGH: Sure.
Q: So, I understood your response to mean that you don't believe that was a hypersonic missile. Do you believe that Iran actually has fully developed a hypersonic missile?
MS. SINGH: So, I -- do I believe Iran â
Q: Is that correct?
MS. SINGH: Or Houthi?
Q: Do they -- Iran and -- actually Iran. Do you believe Iran has a hypersonic missile that it could field to Houthis if it wanted to? And just to be clear, did you say then that it wasn't a hypersonic missile that was â
MS. SINGH: Our assessment is that it was a ballistic missile. That's all I can give you on that. In terms of capabilities that Iran is developing I just don't have anything more to share at this moment.
I can tell you that -- and you've seen Iran and their continued support not just for the Iranian backed militia groups, but also to Russia. They clearly have the means and capability to continue to provide very sophisticated weapons both on the battlefield that are being used in Ukraine and then also to their groups that operate, whether it be in Iraq or Syria or the Houthis, and of course Hezbollah.
We have not shied away from talking about the threat of Iran and their ability to cause regional instability. And that's why you've seen the secretary make the decision that he did, of course, with, you know, the interagency, to move two carriers to the region. We obviously have the Georgia in the region. I think that just speaks to the fact that we take the threat of Iran very seriously. And that's what we're going to do to -- that's why we're doing what we're doing to protect our forces, but of course also stand in the defense of Israel if we need to.
Great. Oren and then Luis?
Q: How successful has the US been in stopping the flow of Iranian weapons to the Houthis? We've seen a few interceptions of stateless dhows with Iranian weaponry. How much of that is still flowing?
MS. SINGH: I think it's fair to say that the Houthis are still continuing to see support from Iran. You know, I don't have a percentage to read out or how many -- like, how much -- how many other shipments we've been able to disrupt. I mean, as you mentioned, we did intercept a dhow that was delivering capabilities and support to the Houthis.
I think it's fair to say that Iran continues to back their groups, whether that be through financial means or in tangible capabilities. We continue to do our job in disrupting their capability with, you know, whether it be dynamic strikes or protecting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. But that's something that's an ongoing effort. And we never said that we were going to wipe all that capability off the map, but it's something that we continue to hold them accountable for. Luis?
Q: Good morning.
MS. SINGH: Good morning.
Q: The Houthis are claiming they've shot down the MQ-9 Reaper, again. Any truth to those reports at all?
MS. SINGH: You must have missed the first part. That's okay. No, I'm just kidding. We -- I'm aware of the reports and have seen those. I don't -- we're looking into that. I would refer you to CENTCOM for more details, but hopefully it's something that, you know, we'll have more to share. But I'm aware of that, that that's out there, and we're looking into it.
Q: So, they seem to have been making, like, a claim that they've shot down a lot of these Reapers. I mean, in the overall, not just this incident, I mean, have you really lost so many of these Reapers, or is this just boasting on their part?
MS. SINGH: I think they've put out claims before saying that they've hit ships that they did not. They've put out claims before that they've hit MQ-9s that they have not. They're -- you know, sometimes they do hit those ships and we do acknowledge that.
And so, we're looking into this report. If there's truth to it, we'll certainly let you know. But that's something that -- you know, also CENTCOM is looking into those details, so I'd have to refer you to CENTCOM for that. But we have seen them use and, like, say things that are not always factually accurate.
Q: And on Alaska -- I'm sorry. Again, I missed it.
MS. SINGH: That's ok.
Q: There were two incidents yesterday, is that correct?
MS. SINGH: No incidents. NORAD was just monitoring. There was no incursion, I believe, into US airspace or Canadian airspace. What NORAD was doing was just highlighting that, you know, there was not -- that Russian aircraft remained in international airspace. It was just to highlight that.
Q: So, there were two occurrences where they â
MS. SINGH: Yeah, I believe they put up two or three press releases over the weekend.
Q: Ok.
MS. SINGH: Yeah.
Q: And then could you speak about what happened in Shemya Island, the push forward by the 11th Airborne pushing -- yeah, it looked like it was a snap exercise in the Aleutians, you know, demonstrating far reach capability at short notice by -- I think by 11th Airborne. Do you have any information on that?
MS. SINGH: I don't. Happy to take that question. Ellee?
Q: Just very quick, have the Russians delivered any ballistic missiles to the Houthis?
MS. SINGH: The Russians did? Not to my knowledge.
Q: Ok.
MS. SINGH: Sorry. I -- last week we put out some information about Iran delivering ballistic missiles to Russia. And I was -- I was getting my countries confused. No, not to my knowledge. Okay. All right. Thanks, everyone.
