Gallant hopes Iran, Hezbollah won't force Israel to cause 'significant damage'

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has warned to retaliate "in a way that hasn't been done before" if Iran and Hezbollah attack Israel.

Gallant said Sunday, as he visited a military base, that Israel is fighting for its existence and that Iran and Hezbollah are threatening to harm Israel "in ways they have not done before."

"We must be prepared," Gallant said, adding that he hopes Iran and Hezbollah "will think this through and won’t get to a point where they will force us to cause significant damage and increase the chances of war breaking out on additional fronts."

Fears of a major escalation between Israel and Hezbollah have left many in Lebanon and Israel on edge, especially after a strike on Beirut's southern suburbs late last month killed Hezbollah's top military commander, Fouad Shukur.

The leaders of France, Germany and Britain called Monday on Iran and its allies to refrain from any retaliatory attacks that would further escalate regional tensions, as they endorsed calls for a cease-fire in Gaza.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to Gallant on Sunday, reiterating America’s commitment to defend Israel and noting the strengthening of the U.S. military force posture and capabilities in the region, according to the Defense Department. It noted Austin has ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and is telling the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area. The Lincoln was expected in the region by month's end.

Hezbollah launched overnight into Monday salvos of rockets in response to Israeli attacks on south Lebanon, targeting troops stationed in northern Israel.

Hezbollah has traded near-daily fire with Israel in support of its ally Hamas since the Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack on Israel triggered war in Gaza.

The cross-border violence since early October has killed at least 565 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters but also including at least 116 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

On the Israeli side, including in the annexed Golan Heights, 22 soldiers and 26 civilians have been killed, according to military figures.

Thousands have been displaced from both sides of the border due to the fighting.