Israel and US hold talks on Lebanon border tensions
The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that Minister Gallant and his US counterpart Austin spoke by phone throughout the weekend following Hezbollah's rocket attacks and Israel's airstrikes. Gallant emphasized Israel's goal of ensuring the safety of its citizens in the north.
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The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced in a written statement that Gallant and Austin held several phone conversations throughout the weekend.
The statement came following a rocket attack launched by Hezbollah into inland areas of northern Israel and the Israeli military's subsequent airstrikes on Lebanon.
Gallant briefed his US counterpart on developments in the north, as well as Israel's killing of senior Hezbollah military leader Ibrahim Aqil and other leadership figures in an airstrike on Beirut. Detailing Israel's defensive preparations on the northern border and its strikes against Hezbollah, Gallant emphasized to the US Secretary of Defense "Israel's goal of ensuring that citizens in the north can return to their homes."
It was also stated that the Israeli Defense Minister conveyed to Austin Israel's commitment to its attacks on Gaza and "the return of Israeli hostages held there." Clashes between the Israeli military and Lebanon's Hezbollah continue to intensify.
One of the approximately 115 rockets fired from Lebanon throughout the night struck an area near Haifa, injuring 3 people. In an Israeli military airstrike on what it claimed were Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, one person lost their life and one person was injured.