The US secretary of state held a phone call with his Israeli counterpart in which he “reiterated US commitment to a diplomatic arrangement in Lebanon”, that would allow communities on both sides of the border to return home, Al Jazeera reports.

Lloyd Austin also reaffirmed to the Israeli defence minister the US’s commitment to defending its troops and Israel against “threats from Iran and Iran-backed proxies”, according to a Pentagon readout of the call.

Austin also reportedly urged Israel to “improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza”, after the US warned on October 13 that Israel had 30 days to improve the situation or risk facing military aid restrictions.