Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the Lebanese government that the Zionist entity would strike Lebanon if Hezbollah attempted any “provocation” against the entity

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the Lebanese government that the Zionist entity would strike Lebanon if Hezbollah attempted any “provocation” against the entity, Israeli daily Haartez reported on Monday.

The daily added that the premier conveyed the message to the Lebanese government through a Western diplomat he met in occupied Jerusalem several weeks ago.

The daily quoted a “well-informed” senior official as saying that Netanyahu “sees Hezbollah as part of the Lebanese administration.”

“The prime minister therefore clarified to the government that if Hezbollah attacks Israel, the Israel Defense Forces will strike back forcefully – without differentiating between Hezbollah and the state of Lebanon,” the official said.

"As far as we're concerned, the Lebanese government is responsible for whatever happens in its jurisdiction," Netanyahu told the Western diplomat.

Haartez added that the premier’s office declined to comment on the matter.