“The Secretary strongly emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and security of UNIFIL forces and Lebanese Armed Forces and reinforced the need to pivot from military operations in Lebanon to a diplomatic pathway as soon as feasible,” the statement added.
“Secretary Austin also raised the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and stressed that steps must be taken to address it. The Secretary reaffirmed the United States' unwavering, enduring, and ironclad commitment to Israel's security,” the Pentagon said.
Finally, Austin “acknowledged Yom Kippur and the need to bring back all hostages to their families as soon as possible.”
The conversation came a day after the IDF said its forces fired at a threat near a UNIFIL position in southern Lebanon, and acknowledged that the post was hit, wounding two UNIFIL personnel.
The IDF noted that, “hours before the incident, the IDF instructed UNIFIL personnel to enter into protected spaces and remain there. This instruction was in place at the time of the incident.”
“The IDF is in contact with UNIFIL for coordination purposes and will continue to do so. The IDF is continuing to examine the circumstances of the incident.”
“The Hezbollah terrorist organization deliberately operates with the intent to harm Israeli civilians from civilian areas and near UNIFIL posts, thereby endangering UNIFIL personnel,” said the IDF.
Friday’s incident marks the second time in two days that UNIFIL has said that its personnel were hit by Israeli fire.
UNIFIL has asserted that the attacks were deliberate, with some UNIFIL officials claiming that Israel seeks to drive the UN out of Lebanon.
A US National Security Council spokesperson commented on Thursday’s incident, saying, "We understand Israel is conducting targeted operations near the Blue Line to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure that could be used to threaten Israeli citizens. While they undertake these operations, it is critical that they not threaten UN peacekeepers’ safety and security. We reached out immediately to our Israeli counterparts about it and pressed them for more details."
UNIFIL, which acts as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel and operates near the border, works to implement Resolution 1701, which ended the Second Lebanon War in 2006 and which has been repeatedly violated by Hezbollah. Israel National News - Arutz Sheva
