Entering into battle against Israel would result in Lebanon plunging into “the Dark Ages,” according to Lebanon’s Minister of Economy, who noted that the “vulnerable” crisis-stricken country “cannot afford a war,” as he warned that even a “small escalation” would result in Lebanon paying a “very heavy price.”

In a Friday interview with the Abu-Dhabi-based National, Lebanon’s caretaker Economy Minister Amin Salam expressed grave concerns about the potential implications for Lebanon in light of the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, insisting that even a minimal escalation with Israel would “plunge [Lebanon] into the dark ages.”

Salam appeared to be referencing the heavy toll from past conflicts as well as the country’s ongoing severe economic crisis.