Israeli defense minister warns Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah or pay 'heavy price'

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Saturday warned President Joseph Aoun that Lebanon would pay a "very heavy price" if it fails to disarm Hezbollah.

Addressing the president, Katz said in a statement broadcast on Israeli television that if "the choice becomes protecting our civilians and the safety of our soldiers or Lebanon, we will choose to defend our civilians and our soldiers, and the government of Lebanon and Lebanon will pay a very heavy price."

Israel sent ground troops to Lebanon and conducted many airstrikes on the country this week after Hezbollah joined its ally Iran in strikes responding to a U.S.-Israeli attack on the Islamic republic.