Lebanon declares it "does not want war" with Israel amid escalating border tensions

MADRID, 23 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Government of Lebanon declared this Monday that it "does not want war" with Israel, as crossfire increases on the border shared by both countries between Israeli forces and the armed wing of the Shiite militia party Hezbollah, in retaliation for the attacks launched on the Gaza Strip.

"The Lebanese Government does not want war. If, God forbid, this happens, we will work on it," said acting Minister of Information Ziad Makari, in an interview with Russian media.

Makari has also stated that the "threats" from Israel are already a "constant recurring" and that they have "never" shied away from committing them, especially, he said, its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Almost every week one or another Israeli political or military official threatens Lebanon and promises to return the country to the Stone Age," he said, referring to the words of Israel's National Security Advisor, Tzachi Hanegbi, a few days ago.

Hezbollah, backed by Iran and considered one of the largest paramilitary forces in the Middle East, has been involved in exchanges of fire in recent weeks, in the most serious incidents since the asymmetric war of 2006, which has raised alarm bells in the region.

Thus, Mark Regev, Prime Minister Netanyahu's main advisor, has not ruled out the possibility that the conflict could go beyond Israeli borders and has stressed the need for preparations to "fight a war on two fronts."