US expresses concern to Israel about reported strikes against Lebanese army

Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese village of Jibbain. A Lebanese Armed Forces vehicle in southern Lebanon came under machine-gun fire from inside Israel , a rare incident involving the Lebanese army since cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah began last October.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart on Wednesday that Washington had deep concerns about reports of strikes against the Lebanese armed forces, the Pentagon said in a statement.

Austin also urged Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to make sure Israel takes steps to ensure the safety and security of the Lebanese armed forces and the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, the Pentagon said after their call.

Reuters