BEIRUT

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah issued a threat on Friday, vowing to strike the Israeli city of Eilat in response to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's warning of escalating attacks in Lebanon.  

"In response to the statements of the Israeli Defense Minister, we have precise missile capabilities that can reach as far as Eilat," Nasrallah said in a televised speech.

Hezbollah leader considered the attacks carried out by Israel on the towns of Nabatieh and Al-Sawaneh in southern Lebanon as “a development that must be stopped because it targeted civilians.”

He vowed that “the enemy will pay with its blood the price for the blood of civilians who were killed by its fire.”

Earlier on Thursday, Galant threatened that the army's aircraft would reach “farther” targets in Lebanon. 

He said at the conclusion of the readiness exercise for the internal front for the war scenario in the north, “We have progressed one degree, but this is one degree out of ten,” in reference to the escalation. 

“We cannot only attack within a distance of 20 kilometers, but also within a distance of 50 kilometers, in Beirut, and in any other place. The Israeli army still has a very strong, very important mission.” 

Gallant warned, “Our aircraft in the skies of Lebanon carry heavier bombs for farther targets.” 

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala