BEIRUT: Israeli President Shimon Peres said Wednesday the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad would deliver the "death blow" to Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Israeli website Ynet reported.

“Until now, we have avoided striking strategic targets in Lebanon, but if missiles are fired at us we will know how to respond,” Ynet quoted Peres as saying as he toured the occupied Golan Heights with Israeli Army Chief of Staff Benny Gantz.

The Israeli president also described Assad, a key Hezbollah ally, as “more brutal” and “less intelligent” than his father and predecessor, Hafez Assad.

Peres said that whatever happens in Syria would influence Israel’s “defense campaign.”