Hezbollah has threatened to strike the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa if Israel attacks Beirut, its southern suburbs or Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, Hezbollah official Mahmoud Komati told the Qatari television channel Al Araby on Wednesday.
The warning came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces would target the Beirut area if the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia does not cease its attacks on Israeli cities.
"Hezbollah will accept nothing less than a comprehensive end to the war," Hezbollah official Bilal Lakkis told dpa. He said the Shiite organization would also not allow the Israeli army to move freely in Lebanon by land, air or sea, nor would it allow Israel to create a "reality of occupation in southern Lebanon."
A ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since April, and Israeli and Lebanese representatives are engaged in direct talks in Washington aimed at resolving the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The militia is not involved in the negotiations.
The talks are due to continue on Wednesday, a spokesman for the US State Department announced, saying the aim of the meeting was to reach a comprehensive agreement on Lebanon's sovereignty and Israel's security.
According to Lebanese government sources, Wednesday's meeting is also expected to address the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, the deployment of the Lebanese Army and the consolidation of the ceasefire.
The Israeli broadcaster Kan reported that the United States is considering training the Lebanese national army as part of an effort to disarm Hezbollah, citing sources familiar with the matter. These plans have not been officially confirmed.
A few days ago, Israeli ground troops advanced north of the Litani River in Lebanon, a key dividing line in the conflict. The Israeli military said its troops were carrying out operations against "terrorist infrastructure" in the area.
It said it had so far conducted more than 100 strikes north of the river and discovered "hundreds of weapons inside civilian homes."
