US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and discussed Israel’s operations in Lebanon and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza after a letter earlier this week to Israel from Washington that urged improvement of Gaza’s humanitarian situation, Reuters reports.

“The Secretary encouraged the Government of Israel to continue taking steps to address the dire humanitarian situation, noting the recent action by Israel to increase the amount of humanitarian assistance entering Gaza,” the Pentagon said in a statement yesterday.

Austin and Gallant also discussed an advanced US anti-missile system that Washington has deployed to bolster Israel’s air defenses, the Pentagon said.

Austin wrote on X that he stressed to Gallant the importance of taking measures to ensure the safety of the UN mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL).