Israeli Army Official: Syria Battlegrounds Upgraded Hizbullah Capabilities
The Israeli army is preparing to fight Hizbullah, which has developed new capabilities due to its experience in Syria's war, a senior Israeli military official said.
“Hizbullah’s confidence is growing, along with its combat experience in Syria,” the Jerusalem Post quoted the officer, who was not named, as saying.
“The battlegrounds of Syria have enabled Hizbullah to upgrade its capabilities. Hizbullah plans to send many combatants into Israeli territory near the border and seize it.”
This threat has prompted Israel to make “dramatic changes” to its border-defense plans, the source added.
Hizbullah fighters have been aiding troops loyal to President Bashar Assad against rebels trying to topple him.
The source warned that the Israeli army will retake control of any area the group occupies in a surprise attack.
He also said that a full-scale Israeli war effort would result in the defeat of the Shiite party.
“There is no problem with massing the forces and heading out on a speedy ground maneuver. We can do this very quickly,” he said. “The damage would be enormous in Lebanon.
G.K.
H.K.
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