US, allies warn Hezbollah to stay 'out of conflict'

Israel is not interested in starting a war with Hezbollah but is ready to fight if necessary, Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported Wednesday.

The daily claimed that Israel has sent this message to Hezbollah through France on Saturday and that Hezbollah responded that it is too "not concerned" with starting a war but is ready for it if necessary.

On Monday, Hezbollah said three of its members had been killed in Israeli strikes on south Lebanon after Palestinian militants tried to slip across the border.

After the infiltration Monday, Israel sent a different message in which it said that it will hold Hezbollah responsible for any attack from Lebanon, the daily said.

It later bombed a Hezbollah post, killing the three Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah fired missiles on Israel Wednesday drawing retaliatory Israeli fire, in a "firm response" to Monday's attack.

The CNN also said Wednesday that the U.S. and its allies are warning Hezbollah against escalating the conflict in Israel through a number of channels, including France, the Lebanese government and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

"France has conveyed to Hezbollah, at Israel’s request, that they must stay out of the war and not escalate further or Israel will respond significantly," the CNN said.

After ordering the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the U.S. did not move the carrier for Hamas but "to send a clear message of deterrence to other states or non-state actors that might seek to widen this war."

"Let me say again, to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word: Don’t." Austin said.