US defence secretary Lloyd Austin has told his Israeli counterpart that Israel should be taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces.
In the call with Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, Mr Austin also said Israel should pivot away from military operations in Lebanon to a diplomatic pathway to provide security for civilians as soon as possible.
Mr Austin also said that steps must be taken soon to address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder said in the statement.
For context: There have been a growing number of encounters between Israeli forces and United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers in recent days.
A spokesperson for UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said earlier that attacks against UN peacekeepers in Lebanon “may constitute a war crime”.
Meanwhile, a UN report says no food has entered northern Gaza in two weeks. US vice president Kamala Harris has said Israel must “urgently” do more to address the situation.
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