JERUSALEM, June 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Israel's defence minister said Tuesday Washington had given its backing to potential Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern Dahiyeh suburb, a Hezbollah bastion, if the Iran-backed group attacked northern Israeli communities.

"The Prime Minister and I led a coordinated move together with the IDF to establish a new equation... If Israeli towns continue to be attacked, we will evacuate and strike the Shiite Dahiyeh quarter in Beirut, Hezbollah's stronghold," Israel Katz said at a conference, a defence ministry statement said.

"The United States endorsed this principle and conveyed it to the Lebanese government and all relevant actors... either the fire on Israeli communities stops, or -- if fire continues -- we will strike in Dahiyeh. This equation will be upheld."