Israeli PM threats Lebanon's Hezbollah with 'unimaginable blows'

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Tuesday that the Lebanese Hezbollah militia will be dealt "unimaginable blows" if it resists Israel's recent operation to destroy cross-border tunnels.

The remarks were made by Netayahu during a tour along the northern border, where the Israeli army has uncovered three Hezbollah tunnels crossing from southern Lebanon into Israeli territory.

"The most important thing is the readiness here for a much stronger response if Hezbollah makes a major mistake and decides to attack us or oppose our action," Netanyahu said, according to a statement released by his office.

"Hezbollah will be dealt unimaginable blows," he said.

During the tour, Netanyahu, who is also Israel's defense minister, held a security meeting with Israeli army's Chief-of-Staff Gadi Eizenkot.

"We are systematically dismantling the tunnels," he said, adding the operation will continue "as long as necessary."

"We are carrying out exactly what we planned but we are ready for the unexpected. There is great firepower here," he added.

Israel launched the "Northern Shield" operation on Dec 4 in order to locate and thwart the cross-border tunnels built by Hezbollah, a Shiite militia backed by Iran. Israel has claimed that Hezbollah plans to use the cross-border tunnels to infiltrate into Israel.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006 that ended in a ceasefire.