Austin: US Committed to Easing Lebanon-Israel Border Tensions

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently held discussions with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, emphasizing America’s dedication to diplomatically resolving the ongoing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, with a mutual aim to prevent any further regional conflicts. The U.S. Department of Defense, in a statement on Thursday, highlighted Austin’s reiteration of America’s commitment to diplomatic efforts in the region and the joint objective of both nations to avoid any escalation of the situation.

Additionally, Austin underscored the United States’ support for Israel’s right to self-defense and stressed the necessity of ensuring the continuous delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. This conversation is particularly significant in light of the frequent clashes along the Lebanese-Israeli border since the onset of the war between Hamas and Israel on October 7, which has resulted in the death of at least 202 people in southern Lebanon, including 147 Hezbollah members.