Report: Israel warns Hezbollah any attack on civilians leads to war

Israel has communicated a “stern warning” to Hezbollah through Western and regional intermediaries following the recent assassination of top commander Fouad Shukur that any massive attack on Israeli civilians will lead to war, Israeli sources told the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

“Israel intends to target fighters rather than combat-supporting infrastructure and urges Hezbollah to adopt a similar focus,” the sources added.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has meanwhile asked Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al-Thani to relay messages to Iran and Hezbollah, a source told CNN.

Blinken spoke to the premier on Wednesday.

“The messages were a call for pacifying the escalation and refraining from responding to the killing of Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur and Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh,” the source added, noting that the Qatari PM agreed to convey the messages.