US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed support for Israel as it launched hundreds of aerial strikes on what it said were Hezbollah targets, resulting in one of the deadliest days Lebanon has witnessed in recent years.
Austin spoke to Yoav Gallant on Sunday night as Israel stepped up its attacks across Lebanon in what it says is a campaign to allow tens of thousands of Israelis to return to their homes in the north.
As a result, Hezbollah has introduced new missiles to the battlefront and struck targets deeper inside Israel for the first time since the conflict broke out last year. Hezbollah began attacking Israel the day after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
“The Secretary expressed his support for Israel’s right to defend itself as Hizballah extends its attacks deeper into Israel and stressed the importance of finding a path to a diplomatic solution that will allow residents on both sides of the border to return to their homes as quickly and safely as possible,” Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said.
Austin also said a Gaza ceasefire deal would help the situation. The Pentagon chief has been in almost daily conversations with his Israeli counterpart since escalations increased following unprecedented Israeli attacks last week.
Israel conducted a nationwide cyberattack on Hezbollah communications systems, leading to dozens of casualties and thousands wounded. A majority of the casualties were Hezbollah members or fighters, according to US officials.
The Pentagon previously said it would not support any Israeli offensive operations into Lebanon or elsewhere.
But Austin has also been voicing concern for the safety of Americans in the region.
Read more : US deploying more troops to Middle East amid Israel-Hezbollah fighting: Pentagon
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