US urges Israeli authorities shift to diplomacy in Lebanon
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The US' Defense Secretary urges the Israeli Security Minister to shift to diplomacy in Lebanon, while reaffirming the US' "ironclad" support for "Israel".
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United States President Joe Biden flanked by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, right, speaks during a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House, September 20, 2024. (AP)
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stressed to Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant the need to shift the Israeli government's military approach to a diplomatic one in Lebanon, according to a statement released by the Pentagon on Sunday.
The statement overviewed the most important points of disscusion between the two officials during a call held on October 12.
Multiple incidents have been recorded of Israeli occupation forces endangering the lives of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL), including instances where Israeli forces directly fired at UN peacekeepers.
On this point, Austin expressed "deep concern" to Gallant, urging that the Israeli military ensure the safety of UNIFIL and Lebanese Armed Forces troops.
Austin also "reinforced the need to pivot from military operations in Lebanon to a diplomatic pathway as soon as feasible," according to the readout.
The US defense secretary also pointed to "the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza," saying that steps should be taken to address it, though he reaffirmed the US' "unwavering, enduring, and ironclad commitment to Israel's security."
Read more: UNIFIL sites come under Israeli attack; states, bodies slam assault
Urging diplomacy while offering 'unwavering support'
The US has had a long history of urging Israeli authorities to facilitate humanitarian assistance and engage in diplomacy while also backing the Israeli government's military escalation in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
President Joe Biden's administration has even worked on concealing Israeli violations to ensure that weapons deliveries to the occupation are unaffected.
At one point earlier this year, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration said that "Israel" is blocking American-backed humanitarian aid heading to the Gaza Strip.
In a 17-page memo sent to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in April, USAID told top US diplomats that US law requires the administration to cut off weapons shipments to governments that prevent the delivery of US-backed humanitarian aid. The refugees bureau also delivered a similar evaluation.
If acted upon, the assessment would cause tremulous changes to the Israeli regime's supply of weapons, as the US delivers the majority of weapons through which the regime carries out its aggression.
According to ProPublica, both Blinken and the administration of President Joe Biden refused to accept the conclusions reached by the two US agencies.
Read more: Gulf states urge US to stop 'Israel' from attacking Iranian oil sites
