IDF commander warns of ‘devastating war’ for Hezbollah if it attacks Israel

“In any future crisis, they are not going to see a small war in Lebanon. It’s going to be decisive. It’s going to be full-scale war,” said Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, Israel’s deputy chief of staff.

By: AP and World Israel News Staff

A top Israeli IDF commander on Wednesday issued a stern warning to the Lebanese Hezbollah terror group, saying any future attack by Hezbollah on Israel will unleash “devastating” damage on Lebanon.

Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, Israel’s deputy chief of staff, told foreign journalists that Hezbollah has developed capabilities that present “unprecedented” threats to Israel. Israel estimates the terror group has over 100,000 rockets and missiles in its arsenal.

Golan said any future war will be “much harsher” than anything experienced in the past 20 years.

“In any future crisis, they are not going to see a small war in Lebanon. It’s going to be decisive. It’s going to be full-scale war,” he said.

“That could create devastating damage to Lebanon,” including in civilian areas, where he said Hezbollah hides it arsenal and operates. “There is no other way to take out this threat without … creating large damage to the Lebanese infrastructure, to Lebanese houses and other civilian facilities.”

Golan made his remarks as the IDF completed a large exercise in the north simulating a confrontation on the Syrian front.

Infantry, special units and air force units participated in the drill, which challenged the forces with various scenarios, including the launching of rockets and missiles from Syria at Israeli civilians, terrorist infiltrations and firing on IDF forces.

The IDF stressed that the exercise was planned ahead of time, and is not indicative of any particular development on the Syrian front.

The IDF recently conducted a two week-long exercise in January to prepare it for simultaneous combat and face multiple threats along its northern border with Syria and Lebanon.

On the border with Syria, Israel has been warily watching the Islamic State’s (ISIS) advanced towards its borders, and the IDF estimates it will have to face this threat in the near future.

IDF Chief of Staff Eisenkot stated in January that Israel’s most formidable military threat is the Lebanon-based Hezbollah , and the advent of ISIS in the Middle East has become the most influential factor in the region. In that context, Israel must be prepared to face ISIS militarily on a short notice.