Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Monday warned that Israel would continue military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon and would strike Beirut if the group carried out any attacks on Israeli territory.
In his first official comments following the recent Iran-Israel escalation, Katz said, "Dahiyeh in Beirut will be treated the same as the northern communities," referring to the Hezbollah stronghold in southern
Beirut.
"Any attack on the northern communities will lead to an attack in Dahiyeh. The IDF will continue to operate in Lebanon against the Hezbollah terror organisation," he added. Katz also rejected Iranian warnings issued amid the latest regional tensions.
"Israel categorically rejects Iran's threats," he said. "Any Iranian attempt to link Lebanon and Iran and attack Israel will be met with great force, as happened yesterday," Katz added, according to media sources.