Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz on Monday threatened serious consequences for Lebanon if the Lebanese government does not act against the Shiite movement Hezbollah.
Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah exchanged fire on Sunday, sparked by the launching of anti-tank missiles at Israeli targets.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Katz had asked German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas to convey the following message to Beirut: "If you do not stop Hezbollah's activities against Israel, then all of Lebanon will suffer damage and be severely affected."
Katz said Israel did not want an escalation in violence but that his country "is prepared to continue to react harshly to any attack and sees the state of Lebanon as the only responsible party."
