Pro-Hezbollah rally in Stockholm. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – At a memorial service for Israeli soldiers who died during the Second Lebanon War in 2006, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Northern Command Major General Yair Golan warned against the growing threat of the Lebanese-based terror organization Hezbollah.

“With regard to the situation seven years ago, Hezbollah is better armed, better trained and more cautious,” Maj. Gen. Golan said, according to the IDF website. “It is facing internal challenges, fighting inside Syria, continues to be a central pillar in the axis of evil and continues to see Israel as a devil that but be exorcised from the world. Hezbollah is deterred, very deterred, but is still intent on evil.”

In the summer of 2006, Israel and Hezbollah fought a bloody month-long battle that largely resulted in the status quo ante bellum. According to the IDF, since 2006 Hezbollah has amassed nearly 60,000 rockets and missiles that can reportedly strike at any of Israel’s civilian centers, including Eilat, Israel’s southernmost city.

“The Northern Command today is a strong command, trained and skilled,” Golan added. “We have learned the lessons of war and we’ve adjusted our training.