Lebanon denies receiving warning message from Israel

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on Monday denied receiving any warning message from Israel that it would destroy Lebanon if Hezbollah attacked the Jewish state. The presidential media office said in a statement that the president hasn't received such a warning "although Israeli threats and violations of Lebanese airspace never stop." The denial came after an Israeli website reported that Tel Aviv has sent a warning to Lebanon through the U.S. administration that it would "take Lebanon 50 years backwards" if Hezbollah attacked Israel. The report said the message was delivered to Lebanese president. Earlier this month, Suleiman urged the international community to pressure Israel to stop violating Lebanese airspace, saying its activities were in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. In July 2006, Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers, which led to a 33-day war that killed more than 1,200 Lebanese civilians as well as 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.