Defense Minister Gallant Says Israel Could Return Lebanon To The Stone Age, But Doesn't Want War With Hezbollah

JAKARTA - Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned Israel could return Lebanon to a stone age due to the war with Hezbollah, but stressed they preferred a diplomatic solution to problems on the Israel-Lebanon border while visiting Washington.

"We don't want war, but we are preparing for every scenario," Gallant told reporters on a four-day visit ending today.

"Hezbollah understands very well that we could cause great damage in Lebanon if war occurs," he continued.

Tensions with the Hezbollah group on Israel's northern border with Lebanon have risen sharply, along with the Israeli conflict with Hamas in Gaza, with cross-border attacks getting more intense in recent times. That has caused tens of thousands of people to be evacuated from areas on both sides of the border, and has increased in recent weeks, raising fears of a massive conflict.

Earlier, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said Israel had discussed with United States (US) officials about the possible end of Israel's military operations in Gaza would allow the achievement of a diplomatic "order" with Hezbollah.

"We and America believe and we will dedicate weeks to reaching an agreement," Hanegbi said at a Herzliya conference.

"If there is no regulation through diplomatic channels, everyone understands that there must be arrangements in other ways. For now, we prefer to focus on diplomacy campaigns," he said.

Separately, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken when receiving Defense Minister Gallant said Israel must ensure tensions with Hezbollah do not escalate further.

"He underlined the importance of avoiding further escalation of conflict and achieving diplomatic resolutions that allow Israeli and Lebanese families to return to their homes," the US State Department said.

Last week, Hezbollah and Israel both expressed their readiness to wage an indefinite war. Washington, which does not want major wars to break out between the two countries, then sent President Joe Biden's special envoy, Amos Hochstein, to Lebanon to ease tensions, after he had previously been to Israel.

Last year, Defense Minister Gallant and Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasollah threatened to return each other to the rock age, as tensions escalated on the Israeli-Lebanon border.