Israel’s defence minister says that Washington has given its backing to potential Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern Dahiyeh suburb, a Hezbollah bastion, if the group attacks northern Israeli communities, AFP reports.

“The prime minister and I led a coordinated move together with the IDF to establish a new equation… If Israeli towns continue to be attacked, we will evacuate and strike the Shiite Dahiyeh quarter in Beirut, Hezbollah’s stronghold,” Israel Katz said at a conference, a defence ministry statement said.

“The United States endorsed this principle and conveyed it to the Lebanese government and all relevant actors… either the fire on Israeli communities stops, or — if fire continues — we will strike in Dahiyeh. This equation will be upheld.”