WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has told his Israeli counterpart that Washington had concerns regarding strikes against the Lebanese army while asking Israel to take measures to ensure the safety of the Lebanese military and the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, the Pentagon stated.
Austin asked Israel to take measures to address the dire humanitarian situation in northern Gaza, Reuters reported. Three Lebanese forces were killed in an Israeli attack on an army vehicle in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese army said on Sunday. The United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in Lebanon says its forces have come under Israeli strikes several times.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has expressed his deep concern regarding the reports of attacks against the Lebanese army,” the Pentagon stated, saying he asked Israel to ensure the safety and security of the Lebanese military and UNIFIL troops.”
Lebanon’s Economy
The US wrote a letter to Israel last week demanding concrete steps to address the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, or face potential restrictions on US army aid. The ongoing Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip has displaced about the entire 2.3 million population of the Gaza Strip as well as caused a hunger crisis.
Earlier, the UN warned on Wednesday that Lebanon’s economy, already reeling from years of political and financial crisis, could see its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) decline by 9.2 percent in 2024 if the current war with Israel escalates further.
In its preliminary valuation, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) also warned that the current conflict between Hezbollah and Israel threatens to destabilize Lebanon’s economic recovery.
