Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak Tuesday warned Lebanon that it, not Hezbollah, would be the target of retaliatory attacks should the militant group escalate tension along Israel's northern border, Xinhua reported.
   Barak made the comments at a meeting with regional leaders in northern Israel, stressing that Israel holds Lebanon responsible for any conflict with Hezbollah.
   "Hezbollah is not our target," in such a case, the defense minister was quoted by local daily Ha'aretz as saying. "Our target will be the state of Lebanon."
   "Lebanon grants Hezbollah permission to operate on its soil," said Barak. "We must clarify for the international community that we do not accept that a militia like Hezbollah exists in Lebanon, a sovereign country, and even sits in its parliament."
   Israel's deterrence power will last some time, he added.
   Earlier this month, Israel Defense Forces Chief of General Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said Hezbollah now possesses tens of thousands of rockets, some capable of reaching up to 300 kilometers within Israel.
   These capabilities would put Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as well as cities much further south, into rocket range.
   Israel, the UN and Hezbollah itself have all said that the militant group is stronger today than it was during the Second Lebanon War between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.