Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday said that the Israeli army was "getting ready for any military confrontation that may erupt with Lebanon," welcoming at the same time "the current state of calm dominating the northern front".

During an inspection visit to the Lebanese-Israeli borders, Barak said: "Israel is ready to deal with every situation including the probability of a new confrontation with Hizbullah."

However, Barak added that Israel lived "very harsh weeks" during the 2006 war. He wished for the persistence of the current calm which is "in everyone's interest".