WASHINGTON, Oct 24, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday expressed "deep concern" to his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant over strikes on the Lebanese army after three soldiers were killed over the weekend.

Lebanon's military said Sunday that an Israeli strike had targeted the soldiers' vehicle in the country's south, where Israel says it is pounding strongholds of Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The deaths brought the number of Lebanese troop casualties to eight killed since all-out war erupted between Israel and Hezbollah last month.

In a call with Gallant on Wednesday, Austin "expressed his deep concern about the reports of strikes against the Lebanese Armed Forces," Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said in a statement.

He added that Austin "emphasized the importance of taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL forces," referring to the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

UNIFIL has accused Israel of attacking its members multiple times in recent weeks.

Austin also expressed his condolences for an Israeli brigade commander killed in northern Gaza, where Israeli forces have been engaged in a sweeping assault targeting Hamas.

Colonel Ahsan Daksa was killed in the Jabalia area when an explosive struck him as he left his tank, Israel's military said on Sunday.