JERUSALEM - During an electoral tour in northern Israel, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday night warned against the consequences of seeking “to test Israel’s force of deterrence,” according to French news agency AFP.

“We are following any developments on the other side of the border closely and we advise Israel’s adversaries not to test our country’s strength”, he said. His statements were broadcast on Israeli radio.
“We are ready to face all circumstances. In recent months, we have conducted difficult military maneuvers, and we continue to do so,” Barak said.

According to Israeli public radio, Barak's statements came in response to Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s speech Thursday night, in which he mentioned the possibility of an operation to avenge the assassination of top Hezbollah military chief Imad Mugniyah, who was killed by a car bomb blast in Damascus in February, 2008.