At least 40 dead in Israeli airstrike on school in Gaza Strip: Live updates

“Anyone who thinks they can harm us and we will react by doing nothing is making a big mistake,” he said, according to the Israeli government. “We are prepared for very intensive actions in the north. One way or another, we will restore security in the north.”

Other Israeli politicians have threatened war in Lebanon against Hezbollah, which has stepped up its attacks on northern Israel since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October. But the belligerent statements carry more weight when they come from the highest levels – not just the prime minister, but also the chief of staff and a cabinet minister.

For months, Israeli forces and Hezbollah – an Iranian-backed militia and political group that exercises de facto control over southern Lebanon – have been trading fire at each other, forcing more than 150,000 people on both sides of the border to flee.

On Monday, Hezbollah-controlled Lebanese television station Al Manar said the group had shot at Israeli soldiers and set fires in several locations near the border, allegedly causing casualties.

One of the most intense fires threatened homes in the Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona, near the Lebanese border, according to Israeli news agencies. That town, like much of the Israeli border area, has been largely evacuated for months, and no casualties have been reported.

On Wednesday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for another drone attack in the region. The Israeli military said two drones landed in the area of ​​Hurfeish, a Druze village whose residents are predominantly part of Israel’s Arab-Israeli minority. At least 11 people were injured, one seriously. No sirens sounded to warn of the attack, according to the Israeli military, which is investigating the incident.

Such attacks – and the threat of more direct military action – have raised concerns that Israel may be waging a war on two fronts.

On Wednesday, Matthew Miller, a State Department spokesman, said the Biden administration remained “incredibly concerned” about the risk of escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

“However, the Israeli government has long emphasized – both privately and publicly – that it prefers a diplomatic solution to this conflict, and we continue to seek a diplomatic solution,” Miller said.

The Biden administration has held talks with Israel and Lebanon and exchanged messages with Hezbollah through intermediaries. The aim of the talks is to withdraw Hezbollah forces from the border, Lebanese and Israeli officials and other participants say.

But Hezbollah has repeatedly said it will not negotiate until the war in Gaza is over, and Israeli military officials said this week they were growing increasingly frustrated with Hezbollah’s attacks.

“We are approaching the point where a decision must be made and the Israeli military is ready and prepared for that decision,” Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the Israeli military’s chief of staff, said on Tuesday.

Far-right politicians in Israel have called for war against Hezbollah in Lebanon. “The time has come,” Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister, said on social media on Wednesday. “The entire Israeli people fully support us.”

Israel invaded Lebanon in 1978, 1982 and 2006 to eradicate armed insurgents who were carrying out attacks against Israel.

Adam Rasgon And Ephrat Livni contributed to the reporting.