Austin urges Galant to move from military offensive in Lebanon to diplomatic track

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that he urged Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant to move from the military attack in Lebanon to the diplomatic track as soon as possible. 'I called Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last night to discuss Israel's operations in Lebanon,' Austin wrote in a post on the X platform following his call with Galant. 'I reaffirmed America's unwavering support for Israel's right to defend itself, and reiterated the United States' commitment to reaching a diplomatic settlement that ensures the safe return of Lebanese and Israeli civilians to their homes on both sides of the border.' "I urged the need to ensure the safety of UNIFIL forces and coordinate the transition from military operations to a diplomatic track as soon as possible," Austin added. 'I made clear that the United States is well positioned to defend our personnel, partners, and allies against any attacks by Iran or its Iran-backed partners and proxies,' he continued. 'Secretary Galant and I also reaffirmed our commitment to preventing anyone from exploiting tensions or expanding the conflict in the region. We also discussed urgent steps to address the critical humanitarian situation in Gaza.' Source: Maan News Agency