Israel has threatened to "return Lebanon to the Stone Age" in any war it enters with Hezbollah, following skirmishes over several weeks between the two sides along Lebanon's southern border, according to Reuters, coinciding with reports of an increasing likelihood of confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement on Tuesday, August 8, 2023: "Don't make a mistake. We don't want war. But we are ready to protect our citizens, our soldiers, and our sovereignty." He was referring to the Hezbollah group.

Israel and Hezbollah have been issuing such bombastic statements since their last war in 2006.

However, these statements have become more intense since the explosion that occurred on one of Israel's streets in March, for which Tel Aviv blamed an infiltrator affiliated with Hezbollah. The group did not claim responsibility for the bombing.

Meanwhile, the past few weeks have seen clashes between Lebanese civilians and at least one group of Hezbollah members and Israeli forces along the fortified border between the two countries.

Israeli military officials have estimated that the likelihood of war with the Lebanese Hezbollah organization is the highest since 2006.

The danger of clashes erupting in Lebanon

The newspaper "Yediot Ahronot" reported on Monday, citing unnamed security officials and Israeli army officers: "The risk of war breaking out with Hezbollah across the northern border is the highest since the end of the Second Lebanon War in 2006."

It added: "Military officials are concerned that Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah senses Israeli weakness amid protests over judicial legislation and may test the army's patience despite the danger of igniting a full-blown conflict."

Israeli security officials anticipate a scenario of a "complex war" with the Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah, stating that Israel could face thousands of rockets in a single day, while expressing doubt about the "Iron Dome's" ability to intercept rockets heading toward the occupied territories.

The Israeli site "I24News" reported on Monday, August 7, 2023, that the expectation of Israeli security officials regarding a war comes after handling an increase in incidents along the Lebanese-Israeli border in recent weeks.

The site also quoted the newspaper "Israel Hayom" as saying that officials do not rule out the possibility of factions in Gaza and the West Bank also participating in the fighting; "which exposes Israel to multiple threats," adding that they "are particularly concerned about riots within the Arab Israeli community, which they consider the most terrifying scenario."