Israeli Officer Promises Hizbullah 'Tougher Response'

A senior Israeli officer warned Hizbullah that Israel's response this time would be much tougher.

"The response would be ten times tougher than the July war if tensions spread to the northern border," the officer warned.

He said the response would include "strong strikes" against Lebanon in the event of war following the indictment in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Aharonot quoted the officer as warning civilians in southern Lebanon that Israel would hit Hizbullah targets, pointing to Hizbullah's missile arsenal in villages flanking Israel's northern border.

He said that according to Israeli estimates Syria has provided Hizbullah with "all types of advanced rockets."

“So far, however, there are no sings that Syria has supplied Hizbullah with chemical weapons,” the officer added.