Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said today that Washington has agreed for the Hebrew state to bomb the southern suburb of Beirut, if Hezbollah attacks its northern regions. Agence France-Presse quoted Katz as saying during a conference on defense exports: “Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) and I led an approach aimed at establishing a new equation... If Israeli towns continue to be targeted, we will evacuate and strike the southern suburbs of Beirut, Hezbollah’s stronghold.” He added: "The United States supported this matter and conveyed it to the Lebanese government and all concerned parties... Either the firing on Israeli towns will stop, or we will strike the suburb if it continues," stressing that "this equation will be applied."