WASHINGTON 

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that diplomacy is 'the best way to prevent' an Israel-Lebanon escalation when he met his Israeli counterpart.

Austin said Hezbollah's attacks threaten to drag the Israeli and Lebanese people into a war and such a war "would be devastating for innocent Israeli and Lebanese civilians".

"Diplomacy is by far the best way to prevent more escalation," said the US defense chief in the meeting with Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon.

He reiterated that the US is "urgently seeking a diplomatic agreement that restores lasting calm to Israel's northern border and enables civilians to return safely to their homes on both sides of Israel-Lebanon border."

Tensions have soared along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv pressed ahead with a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 37,600 victims since Oct. 7.

Hezbollah has linked the cessation of its attacks against Israel to the end of Tel Aviv's onslaught on Gaza.