Tel Aviv/Beirut, 29 June 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant does not consider a war against the Iran-backed Shiite Hezbollah militia in Lebanon to be desirable, but he believes his army is prepared for one.

"We are working on a political solution. That is always the better option," the minister said on Friday during a visit to troops near Israel's northern border with Lebanon, Israeli media reported. "We are not looking for war but we are prepared for one."

"[If Hezbollah chooses war], we know what we are doing," he added. "If they choose peace, we will respond accordingly."

Since the beginning of the Gaza war, there have been daily exchanges of fire between Israel's army and Hezbollah in the border area between Israel and Lebanon.

On Friday, the pro-Iranian militia fired 25 shells and three drones at Israel, according to the Israeli military. No people were injured. However, some of the rockets caused forest fires.

The Israel's army said it fired on several Hezbollah launch positions.

The fighting has recently intensified considerably. Several countries, including Germany, once again called on their citizens to leave Lebanon.

There are fears that a possible open war between Israel and Lebanon could escalate into a regional conflict that would also involve Iran and the United States.

In a post on X on Saturday morning, Iran's mission to the UN warned that should Israel "embark on full-scale military aggression, an obliterating war will ensue."