Pentagon Chief Highlights Concerns About Attacks On Lebanese And UNIFIL Soldiers

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. (Wikimedia Commons/US Secretary of Defense)

JAKARTA - United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart on Wednesday Washington had concerns about an attack on the Lebanese armed forces, urging Israel to take steps to ensure the safety of the Lebanese army and UN peacekeeping missions in Lebanon, the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) said.

Defense Secretary Austin also told Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant Washington welcomed the movement of humanitarian aid through the Erez crossing to northern Gaza and urged Israel to take steps to address the dire situation there.

Three Lebanese soldiers were killed in an Israeli attack on a military vehicle in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese military said on Sunday. Israel, on which they targeted Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militants, apologized and said its military was not operating against the Lebanese army.

On the other hand, the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) also said its troops had been attacked by Israel several times. Israel has denied reports of the incident.

Defense Secretary Austin "expressed his deep concern about reports of attacks on the Lebanese Armed Forces," the Pentagon said, adding that he urged Israel "to ensure the safety and security of the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL forces".

Earlier, Washington wrote a letter to Israeli officials last week demanding concrete action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, or facing potential restrictions on US military aid.