Israel cautions against fresh round of war with Hezbollah

Israel's head of military intelligence said on Wednesday that Israel is prepared for another round of war with the Lebanese Hezbollah militia.

"We have no offensive intentions in Lebanon," Maj. Gen. Herzl Halevi, Chief of Israel's Military Intelligence Directorate said during the annual Herzliya Conference in Herzliya near Tel Aviv.

"We do not want a war, but we're ready for one more than ever," he said, noting that Hezbollah or other enemies "wouldn't risk additional conflict," if they know Israel's "military capabilities."

Halevi said the next conflict is expected to be harder for Israel as Hezbollah fighters are better trained now than during the last round of war in 2006.

"Hezbollah is suffering heavy casualties in Syria but also experiences significant achievements, and in this process they learn a lot and gain access to new means of combat," he said.

He noted that the Shiite organization Hezbollah, which controls southern Lebanon, is being aided by Iran, including through shipments of weapons.

"Syrian industries have resumed the production of weaponry for Hezbollah, and neither the world nor Israel should accept it -- it could escalate the next conflict," he warned.

The 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war ended with a fragile United Nations-brokered ceasefire after 34 days of bloody fighting.

Occasional hostilities have continued since then, with Hezbollah militants firing towards northern Israel and Israeli bombing convoys of weapons for Hezbollah. Endit