The US defense secretary spoke to his Israeli counterpart four times this week, a sign of how concerned the Biden administration is about an escalatory pattern along the Lebanon-Israel border.Israeli officials have upped their rhetoric and threats of a looming military campaign along the border, which they think will allow for the return of tens of thousands of residents to the north.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Washington has a different take, and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin, among others in the US government, has been relaying that message publicly and privately. The US believes a land invasion or Israeli attempts to create a so-called “buffer zone” inside of Lebanon will not result in the return of Israeli residents to the north, something which the Israeli government has said is a new goal of theirs. In separate meetings this week with US President Joe Biden’s aide, Amos Hochstein, this message was relayed to embattled Israeli