Rejecting Iran’s threats, Katz says any Hezbollah attack on Israel will lead to IDF strikes in Beirut

In the first official comments from an Israeli official on the ceasefire with Iran, Defense Minister Israel Katz says the military will continue to operate against Hezbollah in Lebanon and strike Beirut if the terror group attacks Israel.

“Dahiyeh in Beirut will be treated the same as the northern communities,” Katz says, 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 organization,” he says.

Katz says that Israel “categorically rejects Iran’s threats.”

“Any Iranian attempt to link Lebanon and Iran and attack Israel will be met with great force, as happened yesterday,” he adds.

The statement marks the first from Katz since yesterday evening. The defense minister had not issued any comment on the escalation with Iran until now.

Iran warned earlier that it would respond to any further “aggression” by Israel in Lebanon, including in the country’s south.