JERUSALEM

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned Wednesday that the escalating tension along the border with Lebanon may deteriorate into a war.  

“As things stand, (Hezbollah leader Hassan) Nasrallah may drag Lebanon into paying extremely heavy prices. They can’t even imagine what might happen,” Gallant said as he attended a drill simulating a conflict in Lebanon. 

“This may also deteriorate into a war. It’s not theoretical, it’s real,” he added in statements cited by The Times of Israel newspaper. 

Regional tensions have escalated following last week’s assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. 

While Hamas and Iran accused Israel of carrying out Haniyeh’s assassination, Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied responsibility. 

Hezbollah has also threatened to retaliate against Israel following the assassination of its senior commander Fouad Shukr in an airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburb on July 30. 

Fears have grown about a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah amid a months-long exchange of cross-border fire. 

The escalation comes against the backdrop of an Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip which has killed more than 39,600 victims since October following an attack by Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio