An Israeli military official warned of what he described as a “major development” involving Hezbollah’s presence inside villages in southern Lebanon, accusing the group of quietly rebuilding its military capabilities under civilian cover and vowing that Israel will not allow it to reestablish a threat along the border.

Speaking to Al-Hadath television, the source said Hezbollah is working to reconstruct multiple operational systems inside southern Lebanese villages, presenting its activities as assistance to local residents while, in reality, attempting to restore its combat readiness.

According to the official, Hezbollah is preparing for a future military confrontation and is actively rebuilding infrastructure aimed at regaining lost capabilities.

“We will not allow its threat to return to our borders,” the source said, stressing that Israel is monitoring the situation closely.

The source also pointed to what he described as covert Hezbollah activity along the confrontation line, saying the group is trying to retain its weapons as long as the Lebanese army does not fully impose control in the area.

“We are aware of secret Hezbollah activities along the front,” the official said. “It is trying to hold on to its weapons in places where the army has not yet asserted its authority.”

The Israeli military source also revealed tensions between Hezbollah and the Amal Movement in the Tyre area of southern Lebanon. He said Amal has not been targeted because it does not conduct military operations, in contrast to Hezbollah, which he said is actively seeking to rebuild its military structure.

“There is friction between Hezbollah and Amal in the Tyre region,” the source said. “Amal is not attacked because it does not run military activity. Hezbollah, on the other hand, is trying to rebuild itself, and that is not something we will tolerate.”

The official said Hezbollah’s continued insistence on holding onto its weapons remains “the core of the problem,” adding that Israel has been steadily degrading the group’s capabilities.

“We are weakening Hezbollah on an ongoing basis,” he said. “Its missile capabilities have been significantly damaged, but they have not been completely eliminated.”

The source also criticized Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem for remarks made earlier this week in which he publicly linked his fate and that of the group to Iran, calling the move a strategic mistake. He added that while the Lebanese government is attempting to dismantle Hezbollah, its efforts remain limited in effectiveness.

“The Lebanese government is trying to dismantle Hezbollah, but its impact so far is weak,” the official said.

The Israeli military source concluded with a stark warning, reiterating Israel’s red line regarding Hezbollah’s military presence inside Lebanon.

“We will not allow Hezbollah to maintain its weapons inside Lebanon,” he said.