WATCH: U.S. ‘urgently seeking’ diplomatic agreement to prevent Israel-Hezbollah escalation, Austin says

WASHINGTON — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pressed the need for Israel to avoid opening a second front against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as he met with Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon Tuesday.

“Another war between Israel and Hezbollah could easily become a regional war, with terrible consequences for the Middle East, and so diplomacy is by far the best way to prevent more escalation,” Austin said.

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Gallant, in response, said in his remarks at the top of the meeting that “We are working closely together to achieve an agreement but we must also discuss readiness on every possible scenario.”

Iranian-backed Hezbollah began striking Israel almost immediately after Hamas’ Oct. 7 cross-border attack that triggered the war in Gaza. Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire nearly every day since then, displacing tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border. The fighting has escalated in recent weeks, raising fears of a full-blown war.

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Gallant is visiting Washington this week to speak with U.S. officials, and met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday.