Israel has violated Lebanon's sovereignty with a "dangerous military escalation" along the Israeli-Lebanese frontier on Monday, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said Tuesday. Diab called for caution after a rise in border tensions a day after IDF forces on the northern border thwarted an attempted cross-border attack by Hezbollah.
"I call for caution in the coming days because I fear the situation will deteriorate in light of heightened tensions on our border," Diab said on Twitter.
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Israel was trying to "change the rules of engagement," Daib added.
On Monday evening, hours after the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz held a special press conference at which they made it clear that Israel would act swiftly in response to belligerent actions.
"Israel will continue to take action against Iran's efforts to entrench militarily in our region," Netanyahu said, adding that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was setting Lebanon on fire.
"Today, a Hezbollah cell infiltrated Israeli territory. Thanks to the successful operational deployment of forces on the ground, the IDF thwarted this attempt. We view the effort to infiltrate into our territory with utmost gravity," Netanyahu said.
The prime minister added that Hezbollah and Lebanon would "bear full responsibility" for Sunday's attack and any other attack against Israel launched from within Lebanese borders.
"Hezbollah needs to understand that it is playing with fire," Netanyahu said.
"Nasrallah already made a major mistake in underestimating Israel's determination to defend itself, and Lebanon paid a heavy price for this. I suggest that he not repeat this mistake," the prime minister warned, referring to the 2006 Second Lebanon War, which began with a cross-border infiltration in which Hezbollah abducted two IDF soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, and resulted in massive damage to civilian infrastructure in Lebanon.
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Gantz said, that IDF soldiers and commanders had acted with "great professionalism and precision" in preventing an incident that could have cost lives.
"Israel is more determined than ever to prevent attacks on its sovereignty or its troops, and certainly its civilians," Gantz said.
The defense minister noted that both Lebanon and Syria were sovereign states that would "pay the painful price of responsibility" for any terrorist attack executed from within their borders.
"Anyone who dares test the IDF's might puts themselves in danger, as well as the country where they are active. Any action against Israel will be met with a powerful and painful response. I want to make it clear – the IDF is prepared to respond, and the IDF is prepared for a response. Israel, its defense establishment, and the IDF will continue to act anywhere that is necessary," Gantz said.
