Israel’s Defense Minister Postpones Trip to Washington, U.S. Says

Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, postponed a visit to Washington on Wednesday to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III to discuss Israel’s military response to Iran’s recent missile barrage, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

Sabrina Singh, the deputy Pentagon press secretary, declined to say why Mr. Gallant had postponed the visit and referred all questions to the Israeli Defense Ministry, which, she said, had informed the Pentagon of the decision on Tuesday.

Ms. Singh played down the notion that any tensions between Mr. Austin and Mr. Gallant were behind the postponement, and did not comment on whether internal Israeli political machinations might have prompted the decision.

“We’re in constant communication with the Israeli government at different levels, including the secretary to Minister Gallant,” Ms. Singh told reporters. “We’re going to keep talking to them about their response.”

President Biden has said he would not support an Israeli strike against Iranian nuclear or energy sites in response to the missile attack on Israel last week, saying that any response should be “proportionate,” essentially acknowledging that some counterstrike is appropriate.

The president and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel last spoke on Aug. 21 by phone, according to a White House statement.

In a phone call on Sunday, Mr. Austin made clear to Mr. Gallant that the United States wanted Israel to avoid retaliatory steps that would result in a new escalation by the Iranians, a senior Pentagon official said on Monday. The two men had been expected to discuss options in more detail in the face-to-face meeting on Wednesday.

As Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon expands to include ground incursions and