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The US has asked to use its close ties with Sudan's current leader to urge him to return his country back to civilian rule, Axios reported on Wednesday.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to IsraeliÌýDefence Minister Benny Gantz last week and asked that Israel encourage the Sudanese military to end the coup,ÌýAxios said, citingÌýIsraeli and USÌýofficials.

Though Gantz does not hold theÌýSudan file, the Biden administration's message was also passed to officials in the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and the foreign ministry, according to the report.

Israel and Sudan have enjoyed stronger relations since they last year in a US-brokered agreement.

Tel Aviv has said little of last week's military takeover, but USÌýenvoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey FeltmanÌýis expected to visit Israel for talks on Sudan on Sunday and Monday. He will also travel to Sudan again in the coming days, Axios said.

On 25 October,Ìýthe military branch of Sudan's transitional government - led by army head General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan -Ìý, detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and top civilian officials, and dissolved the civilian-headed government.Ìý

Protesters have taken to the streets en masse to denounce the coup, but have been met with deadly violence from the armed forces.

An advisor to Burhan said theÌýreturn to civilian rule was imminent, Saudi news outlet Al-Arabiya .

The UN's Human Rights Council willÌýdebate the situation Sudan on Friday. Several countriesÌýincluding the United States put forward aÌýdraft resolution before the meeting, calling on Sudan to return to civilian rule as soon as possible.