Israel has threatened to wipe out the Iran-backed Hezbollah organization if a "total war" broke out, as tensions flare at the Lebanese border.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz's remarks come after Hezbollah released a more than nine-minute video of drone footage supposedly captured by the movement over northern Israel, including areas of the city and port of Haifa.
Israel and the Lebanese organization Hezbollah, a Hamas supporter, have exchanged nearly daily cross-border fire since the Palestinian terrorist group's October 7 strike on Israel sparked the Gaza Strip conflict.
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"We are very close to the moment when we will decide to change the rules of the game against Hezbollah and Lebanon," Katz said, quoted in a statement from his office.
"In a total war, Hezbollah will be destroyed and Lebanon will be hit hard."
On a visit to Lebanon, US ambassador Amos Hochstein earlier Tuesday urged for a "urgent" de-escalation of cross-border violence between Hezbollah and Israel.
"The conflict... between Israel and Hezbollah has gone on for long enough," the presidential envoy stated.
"It's in everyone's interest to resolve it quickly and diplomatically -- that is both achievable and it is urgent."
Hezbollah increased its attacks on northern Israel last week after an Israeli strike killed one of its senior leaders.
The Hezbollah footage showed what the Lebanese organization claimed were Israeli military, defense, and energy installations, as well as civilian and military infrastructure.
A day after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Hochstein met with Nabih Berri, the speaker of the Lebanese parliament and a major Hezbollah ally.
"Speaker Berri and I had a very good discussion," Hochstein said.
"We discussed the current security and political situation in Lebanon as well as the deal on the table right now with respect to Gaza, which also provides an opportunity to end the conflict across the Blue Line," he added.
