Israel troops may have to re-enter Lebanon

Occupied Jerusalem: The Israel army may have to enter Lebanon again to ensure Hezbollah remembers the lessons of the 2006 war, Defence Minister Ehud Barak was quoted as saying in an Israeli newspaper on Wednesday.

"Even though it's quiet and deterrence exists - Hezbollah remembers the heavy beating they suffered from us in 2006 - but it is not forever, and you may be called to enter again," Barak said during a tour of the northern border with the new military Chief of Staff Benny Gantz.

His remarks, which referred to Israel's deadly 34-day war with the powerful Lebanese Shiite militia, were reported by the Haaretz newspaper. "We must be prepared for every test," Barak told troops stationed along the frontier.

"The secret is reacting fast in the event that something happens, and within seconds, translating everything you learned in your training."

The 2006 war killed 1,200 people in Lebanon, most of them civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.