The US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austinin a telephone call he had on Sunday with his Israeli counterpart Joab Gallantunderlined the need for Israel to take all necessary measures to safeguard the safety of members of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese army, the US Pentagon announced today.

The US Secretary of Defense also emphasized that an immediate shift in Israel’s strategy is necessary, from conducting military operations in Lebanon to seeking a diplomatic solution to the crisis, with the aim of creating security conditions for citizens on both sides of the border.

Lloyd Austin also told Yoav Gallad that immediate action must be taken to address the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, US Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said.

The US Secretary of Defense did not fail to express to Gallad his condolences for the Israeli soldiers who were killed in the drone attack launched yesterday by the Lebanese Hezbollah against a military base near Haifa.