TEL AVIV, February 25. /TASS/. Israel will intensify its strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon, regardless of the potential deal with Hamas on a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said.

"We plan to intensify fire efficiency against the Hezbollah movement, which cannot find a replacement to the commanders we eliminate. In case a temporary pause is reached in the Gaza Strip, we will intensify fire in the north and will continue operations until Hezbollah is pushed off [the border] and Israeli citizens return to their homes [in northern Israel]," he said while visiting the Northern Command of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

"If anyone here (on Israel’s northern border - TASS) thinks that when we reach an agreement [with Hamas] on the release of hostages and temporarily cease fire [in the Gaza Strip], it will ease the situation here [for Hezbollah], they are wrong. We will continue fire and will do this regardless of the situation in the south [in the Gaza Strip] until we attain our goals. The goal is simple - to drive Hezbollah off where it should be, either through a [diplomatic] agreement or by force," he said.

According to the IDF, Hezbollah’s military activity south of the Litani River in Lebanon, including the use and possession of weapons, constitutes a direct violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701.