Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Israel does not desire war in Lebanon but can take it to the "Stone Age" if diplomacy fails.

"We don't want to get into a war because it's not good for Israel. We have the ability to take Lebanon back to the Stone Age, but we don't want to do it," Gallant told reporters on the last day of the visit.

PHOTO | COURTESY Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallan

"We do not want war, but we are preparing for every scenario," he said.

"Hezbollah understands very well that we can inflict massive damage in Lebanon if a war is launched."

In recent weeks, violent skirmishes between Israel and Lebanon have raised fears of an all-out conflict.

Since Hezbollah ally Hamas' October 7 strike on southern Israel launched the ongoing Gaza Strip war, the two sides have traded cross-border fire regularly.

PHOTO | COURTESY smoke coming from a building

Gallant said Wednesday that Israel has killed around 400 Hezbollah "terrorists" in recent months.

According to an AFP count, at least 481 people have died in Lebanon as a consequence of Israel-Hezbollah fighting since October 7, including 94 civilians.

Israel claims that at least 15 troops and 11 civilians have been killed.

According to Lebanon's state news agency, an Israeli attack on Wednesday night demolished a building in Nabatiyeh and injured five individuals who were nearby.