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Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Counterpart; White House Dismisses Escalation Concerns

Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Counterpart; White House Dismisses Escalation Concerns
National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby Downplays “All-Out War Scenario” Between Lebanon and Israel
On Monday morning, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart ahead of an anticipated Israeli military operation in Lebanon, a US official reported. Meanwhile, the White House sought to allay fears of an impending “all-out war.”
US officials anticipate an Israeli response to a recent attack in the occupied Golan Heights that targeted a group of children. The attack, which Washington attributes to a Hezbollah missile, resulted in the deaths of at least 12 children. Despite Hezbollah's denial of responsibility, US officials assert that the group launched the missile, likely mistakenly targeting a football field.
Following the incident, Israel’s security cabinet authorized the Netanyahu government to undertake a military response. “A response is coming,” a US official told Al Arabiya English, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The specifics of the Israeli response remain unclear, but US military forces in the region are preparing for potential retaliatory attacks by Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.
Despite predictions of an escalation, US officials believe there is still time for a diplomatic solution to ease tensions along the Blue Line. Late Sunday, the top US diplomat spoke with the Israeli president, stressing the importance of preventing escalation along the Lebanon-Israel border and exploring diplomatic efforts to allow citizens on both sides to return home.
Addressing reporters on Monday, National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby described the “all-out war scenario” as “exaggerated.” He emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense and expressed confidence that the situation would not escalate into a full-scale war. “We certainly don’t believe that, as horrific as this attack was... that it needs to result in any kind of escalation,” Kirby said.
Senior State Department diplomat Richard Verma visited Beirut last week to discuss support for US citizens amid the evolving security situation. He also traveled to Cyprus to review crisis management logistics and met with US military and diplomatic personnel at Incirlik Air Base to assess resources for crisis preparedness.
Amid the tensions, Lebanon’s flag carrier and other international airlines have canceled or delayed flights into Beirut. Middle East Airline’s Chairman Mohammed al-Hout stated there was no specific threat to Beirut’s airport. However, the US Embassy in Beirut advised US citizens traveling to or from Lebanon to monitor their flight status closely and prepare for possible changes to itineraries due to the complex security environment.
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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