U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon on Tuesday, warning that a conflict between ‘Israel’ and Hezbollah could “become a regional war, with terrible consequences for the Middle East.”

“Diplomacy is by far the best way to prevent more escalation,” Austin said.

Gallant, speaking at the opening of the meeting with Austin, said, “We are working closely together to achieve an agreement but we must also discuss readiness in every possible scenario.”

Gallant is on a visit to Washington seeking to reaffirm the value of ties with Israel’s top ally after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly chastised the United States for what he said was a delay in weapons deliveries.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared to caution Israel against launching a major offensive against Hezbollah during his meeting on Tuesday with visiting Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Blinken “underscored the importance of avoiding further escalation of the conflict and reaching a diplomatic resolution that allows both Israeli and Lebanese families to return to their homes,” the State Department said in its readout on the secretary’s meeting with Gallant.

For his part, Gallant “raised the possible ways to change the security situation in the northern arena,” according to a readout from his office.

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