Israel military claims Hezbollah is rebuilding military capabilities in southern Lebanon, signals possible escalation

Senior Israeli military officials have warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Hezbollah is rapidly rebuilding its military infrastructure in southern Lebanon, including the smuggling of short-range missiles from Syria, Israeli media reported Tuesday.

According to Hebrew media outlets, the warnings were raised during a special security discussion convened by Netanyahu amid growing concern over Hezbollah’s activities along Israel’s northern border. Intelligence assessments presented at the meeting indicated that Hezbollah is reconstructing military positions and rehabilitating buildings in southern Lebanese villages, with new local recruitment efforts under way.

Officials from Israeli Military Intelligence reportedly told members of the Knesset Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs and Security that Hezbollah’s recovery efforts are advancing “at a much faster pace than previously estimated,” posing new operational challenges for Israel’s defence establishment.

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The discussions outlined possible military response options, with Israeli media reporting that the Israel Occupation Forces are preparing to intensify airstrikes and targeted operations in Lebanon aimed at crippling Hezbollah’s capabilities.

While defence officials emphasised that Israel is not seeking a new war, they stressed that the army is “prepared for any extreme moves at any time.”

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that, although the IDF has so far avoided strikes inside Beirut, officials warned that “there will be no safe haven if Hezbollah continues to bolster its capabilities.”

The developments come amid a sharp rise in cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah in recent weeks, further straining an already fragile security environment along the northern frontier.

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