JAKARTA - Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday vowed to continue Israel's military campaign in Lebanon, despite warnings from Iran.
The Mullah State emphasized that it would take harsh action in response if Israel continued its attacks on Lebanon.
"The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) will continue to operate in Lebanon against the terrorist organization Hezbollah," Defense Minister Katz said in a statement, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (9/6).
Defense Minister Katz said Israel would strike the southern outskirts of Beirut, known as the Dahiyeh district, in retaliation for any attack on northern Israel.
"We firmly reject Iran's threats. Any Iranian attempt to connect Lebanon and Iran and attack Israel will be met with great force, as was the case yesterday," said Defense Minister Katz.
Previously, Iran launched an attack on northern Israel on Sunday night, saying it was in response to an Israeli attack on Lebanese territory that it claimed targeted the Hezbollah group.
The attack was retaliated by Israel on Monday morning by launching an attack on Iranian territory.
The firing of missiles into Israel, which was responded to with air strikes on Iranian territory, has raised fears that the escalation could trigger a new full-scale conflict after the April 8 ceasefire.
US President Donald Trump on Monday called on Iran and Israel to stop fighting, amid reports of his increasingly tense relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Iran later said it would end its latest military operation against Israel after the first exchange of fire between the two enemies since the fragile ceasefire began, but warned it could respond with more "devastating" strikes if the attack on Lebanon continued.
Iran announced earlier on Monday that it had halted its latest attack on Israel, but added that "if acts of aggression and hostility continue, including in southern Lebanon, much harsher and more devastating action than before will follow."
Israel itself then announced the end of the attack on Iran, one of its officials still ensuring that it would continue to fight the militant group Hezbollah.
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