Defense Minister Katz: Israel Will Take Firm Action If The Ceasefire In Lebanon Fails

Israeli Defense Minister Katz visited troops on the northern border with Lebanon. (Source: Elad Malka/Defense Ministry)

Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz said the country's military (IDF) was ready to attack non-Hezbollah's targets if a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah on November 26 failed.

That was said by Defense Minister Katz while visiting Israeli troops on the northern border on Tuesday.

"If the ceasefire fails there will be no more exceptions for the Lebanese state," said Defense Minister Katz. Katz, quoted from The Jerusalem Post December 3.

He further stressed that Israel would never return to the days when they would ignore the'small' rocket fire or the small tent Hezbollah had set up before the illegal war of several meters into Israeli territory.

"We will work our best to enforce all understandings of the ceasefire agreement, and we show maximum response and zero tolerance," Defense Minister Katz said, quoted by The Times of Israel.

"Yesterday was the first test, (Hezbollah) opened fire on Mount Dov. We reacted strongly and this is what we will do, and we will not let Hezbollah return to the old methods they have, such as the tent set up (Hezbollah on the border a few years ago)," he said.

Defense Minister Katz said Lebanon should "authorize the Lebanese army to enforce their role, in order to keep Hezbollah away from the opposite (River) Litani and dismantle all infrastructure."

"If they don't do it and this whole agreement collapses, then reality will become very clear. First of all, if we go back to war, we will act decisively, we will act further, and most importantly they need to know, that there will be no more exceptions for Lebanese countries," he stressed.

"If we have been distinguishing between Lebanese and Hezbollah countries, and between Beirut as a whole and (his southern edge, the Hezbollah fort) Dahiyeh, which we have attacked very hard, this will not happen again," he warned.