US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin "expressed concern" to Israeli occupation Security Minister Yoav Gallant during a conversation on Saturday regarding "Israel's" involvement in heightening tensions along the border with Lebanon, Axios reported citing three US and Israeli sources who were briefed on the call.

The news website considered that "Austin's message to Gallant reflected growing anxiety in the White House that Israeli military action in Lebanon is exacerbating tensions along the border, which could lead to a regional war."

It cited sources briefed on the issue as saying that "some in the Biden administration are concerned Israel is trying to provoke Hezbollah and create a pretext for a wider war in Lebanon that could draw the U.S. and other countries further into the conflict."

According to one US source, "the White House asked Austin to express concern to Gallant about escalating Israeli military action in Lebanon."

Axios cited an Israeli source as saying that Austin sought clarification from Gallant regarding Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon. The US Defense chief urged "Israel" to refrain from taking actions that might escalate the situation into a full-scale war with Hezbollah.

On his part, Gallant assured Austin that Israeli policy is not geared toward opening a second front in Lebanon, emphasizing his belief that such a scenario is unlikely to unfold, as per the Israeli source.

Elsewhere, the Israeli source told Axios that "Biden administration officials are also concerned by Gallant's public threats against Hezbollah and think these threats only increase tensions."

This comes as the border between occupied Palestine and Lebanon continues to witness daily skirmishes between Israeli occupation forces and fighters from the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon.

Gallant pointed out on Saturday that the majority of the Israeli Air Force's strength is allocated to Lebanon, noting that "Israel" is using less than a tenth of its power in Gaza.

"Our pilots are sitting in the cockpit, the noses of the planes are pointing north. We have enough to do in the south, but the Air Force is facing north and its power is very great," Gallant said during a visit to an Israeli military base on the northern border of occupied Palestine.

Related News

UNIFIL: Israeli strikes on South Lebanon violate UN resolution 1701

Lebanon's Aoun slams Israeli aggression as 'full-fledged crime'

He also indicated that "provocations have become hostile on the northern front, and Hezbollah is playing with fire."

Gallant warned a war on the northern front would result in widespread destruction in Lebanon similar to that in Gaza.

"If it (Hezbollah) makes this kind of mistake here, the ones who will pay the price will be first and foremost Lebanese citizens."

"What we're doing in Gaza, we can also do in Beirut."

In a related context, the military affairs correspondent for the Israeli Channel 12, Nir Dvori, mentioned that the Chief of Staff of the Israeli military said a few days ago that more than 50% of the air force is kept ready for the north, "and this is very important because there may be a miscalculation, and we must be prepared for all possibilities."

Israeli media have been recently tackling Israeli concerns about the northern front with Hezbollah, affirming that this front is a "huge challenge" for "Israel".

A few days ago, the Israeli Channel 12 confirmed that Hezbollah's missile capabilities represent the biggest threat to "Israel", in addition to the Resistance party's fighters and their readiness.

Israeli media have previously stated that Hezbollah "holds the initiative in the north," and the Israeli military "is frustrated and in a defensive position all the time."

This comes as Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah confirmed on Saturday during a ceremony commemorating Martyr's Day that "the Islamic Resistance's operations are ongoing despite all Israeli countermeasures."

"The operations of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon going deeper into the occupied territories have increased," Sayyed Nasrallah highlighted.

Read more: Hezbollah figured out Israeli Air Force's tactics: Israeli media