Israel does not want war in Lebanon – but has the capability to send the neighbouring country "back to the Stone Age" if diplomacy fails, claims the Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
Hezbollah understands very well that we can inflict massive damage in Lebanon if a war breaks out, says Gallant.
The statement came on Gallant's last day in Washington, where he met, among others, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defence Minister Lloyd Austin, and the National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
Fears of a full-scale war in Lebanon have increased in recent weeks, since the shelling between Israel and the Iran-backed Shia militia Hezbollah in Lebanon has intensified. During his visit to Washington, Gallant stated that Israel has killed over 400 "Hezbollah terrorists" in the past few months.
On Wednesday, the UN chief for humanitarian affairs warned that a war between Israel and Hezbollah could have "apocalyptic" consequences. If Lebanon is drawn into the war, Syria and other countries will also be drawn in, believes Martin Griffiths.
The war in Gaza has shown us a new level of brutality. But we are all worried that this is only the beginning, he said.
