The United States has “deep concern about reports that Israeli forces fired on U.N. peacekeeping positions in Lebanon, as well as by the reported death of two Lebanese soldiers,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defense minister, on Saturday, according to Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.
Austin “strongly emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and security of UNIFIL forces and Lebanese Armed Forces and reinforced the need to pivot from military operations in Lebanon to a diplomatic pathway as soon as feasible,” Ryder said.
Gallant’s office noted in its readout of the call that the Israel Defense Forces is investigating the the UNIFIL incident.
“Hezbollah operates and fires in the vicinity of UNIFIL positions, using peacekeeping missions as a cover for its terrorist activities,” the statement said.
“Minister Gallant emphasized that while facing this significant operational challenge, the IDF will continue to take measures to avoid harm to UNIFIL troops and peacekeeping positions.”
Israel has told United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon soldiers to vacate certain areas ahead of its attacks on Hezbollah terror targets. In a U.N. Security Council meeting on Thursday, Danny Danon, the Israeli envoy to the global body, said that the Lebanese army and UNIFIL must “step up” and fulfill their duties.
“The Lebanese people have been held hostage by an Iran-backed terror organization,” Danon told the council. “Hezbollah has established a terrorist state within a failed state.”
On Saturday, Austin “also raised the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and stressed that steps must be taken to address it” with Gallant and “reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering, enduring and ironclad commitment to Israel’s security,” the Pentagon readout said.
“He acknowledged Yom Kippur and the need to bring back all hostages to their families as soon as possible,” Ryder added.
“During the call, Minister Gallant reiterated his commitment to ensuring the return of 101 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, and highlighted the importance of the international community to this end,” Gallant’s office said.
Hezbollah fired some 320 rockets at the Jewish state on Yom Kippur, a fact media reports downplayed.
“The Minister and Secretary also discussed ongoing defensive activities in the face of threats posed by Iran and its proxies, primarily Iranian militias in Yemen, Syria and Iraq,” the Defense Ministry readout of the call stated.
Gallant’s office added that the minister “expressed his appreciation to Secretary Austin for his ongoing, personal commitment to the security of the State of Israel.”