Austin Discusses "Tension" on the Lebanese Border with Gallant

The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) reported that "Secretary Lloyd Austin, during a phone call with Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant, reaffirmed the United States' commitment to reducing tensions along the Israeli border with Lebanon through diplomatic means and avoiding escalation in the region." The department added in a statement published on its website that "Austin emphasized during his conversation with Gallant the importance of ensuring uninterrupted humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza, as well as expressing America's commitment to preventing any regional escalation." Almost daily mutual bombardments have erupted along the border between the Israeli army on one side and "Hezbollah" and armed Palestinian factions in Lebanon on the other, following the onset of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on October 7.