US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant discussed Israel’s military operations on Monday.
The US Defense Department revealed that the two talked by phone, when Austin reaffirmed US support for Israel’s right to self-defense.
It added that Austin and Gallant agreed on the need to dismantle attack infrastructure along the border between Israel and Lebanon, to ensure that the Lebanese Hezbollah cannot conduct “October 7-style attacks” on Israel’s northern communities.
The phrasing is a reference to the attack on Israel by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023.
The two also reportedly discussed the importance of shifting from military operations to a diplomatic pathway in the end.
While allowing Israel to attack Hezbollah’s facilities along the border, the US appeared intent on warning Israel that the fighting should not be prolonged and that Israel should instead seek a diplomatic solution at an early date.
Austin and Gallant also reportedly discussed serious consequences for Iran in the event of it deciding to launch a direct attack on Israel.