U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (R) receives Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on June 25, 2024. (Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP)
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon on Tuesday, warning that a conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could “become a regional war, with terrible consequences for the Middle East."
"Diplomacy is by far the best way to prevent more escalation," Austin said.
Gallant, speaking at the opening of the meeting with Austin, said, "We are working closely together to achieve an agreement but we must also discuss readiness in every possible scenario."
The war in Gaza has heightened tensions across the region, with Israeli forces and Hezbollah exchanging fire on a near-daily basis.
The Israeli army said last week that plans for an offensive in Lebanon were "approved and validated" amid escalating cross-border clashes, but Washington is seeking to lower the temperature and head off another major conflict in the Middle East.
Gallant is on a visit to Washington seeking to reaffirm the value of ties with Israel's top ally after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly chastised the United States for what he said was a delay in weapons deliveries.
The U.S. government insists that only one shipment of bombs has been held up over concerns about their use in populated areas and that other arms deliveries are proceeding as usual.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon on Tuesday, warning that a conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could “become a regional war, with terrible consequences for the Middle East." "Diplomacy is by far the best way to prevent more escalation," Austin said.Gallant, speaking at the opening of the meeting with Austin,...