Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to strike Hezbollah a “crushing blow” if the terror group launches an attack on the State of Israel.

Speaking at his weekly cabinet meeting Netanyahu was responding to comments by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last Friday commemorating “victory” in the 2006 second Lebanon War during an interview with Lebanese satellite station Al-Manar, itself labelled a global terrorist body by the United States.

Nasrallah claimed Hezbollah could strike anywhere in Israel.

“We heard Nasrallah’s remarks on his attack plans,” said Netanuahu. “It should be clear that if Hezbollah dares to do some nonsense and attacks Israel, we will hit him and Lebanon with a crushing military blow.

“In contrast to Nasrallah, I do not intend to detail our plans. It is enough to recall that Nasrallah had, for years, dug terror tunnels, which we destroyed within days.”

Nasrallah did not anticipate a war between soon, as Israel was “deterred” by Hezbollah, but added that Israel would be fighting for its existence.

Addressing Israel residents, he noted, “Everything I’ve presented is the minimum of our abilities. It’s important to me that Israelis understand that.”

Following Netanyahu’s statement Israel Defense Forces’ Home Front Command announced it would protect 20 strategic sites from Hezbollah missile attacks.

Though not naming any they are believed to include properties under the Israel Electric Corporation and Israel Natural Gas Lines as they were reportedly under-protected.

Defensive measures include reinforced concrete walls, ceilings and doors for protection against shrapnel.

Israel’s Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan noted that Hezbollah missile strength had grown to over 150,000 in October 2018, a month after Netanyahu unveiled a map at the UN General Assembly detailing sites near Beirut airport where Hezbollah was developing missiles that could target deep inside Israel.

Netanyahu’s intervention forced the closure of Hezbollah’s secret sites.

By Natalie Ash