US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that he does not believe a full-blown "fight" between Israel and Lebanon was imminent despite escalating tensions at the border.

“While we’ve seen a lot of activity on Israel’s northern border (and) we remain concerned about the potential of this escalating into a full-blown fight, I don’t believe that a fight is inevitable,” he told reporters in Manila where he and US State Secretary Antony Blinken attended a bilateral meeting with their Philippine counterparts.

Asked whether he felt Israel could fight a two-front war in Gaza and Lebanon, Austin said "Israel will do what it needs to defend itself and it's demonstrated that time and again."

While the United States is committed “to helping Israel defend itself or whatever it takes,” Austin stressed that the US wants to see “things resolved in a diplomatic fashion."