US defense secretary spoke to Israeli counterpart, reinforced importance of UN peacekeepers' safety in Lebanon

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in a call with his Israeli counterpart on Sunday, stressed the importance of Israel taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Pentagon said.

Austin, in the call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, also reinforced the need to pivot from military operations in Lebanon to a diplomatic pathway to provide security for civilians as soon as feasible.

He 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.