Hezbollah recently conducted the largest military exercise in the Shiite organization’s 25-year history, according to two pro-Hezbollah newspapers. These reports say the military exercise in southern Lebanon took three days to complete and involved thousands of infantry guerrillas, anti-tank missiles, anti-aircraft missile units, and rocket launchers.

The purpose of these drills, Al-Akhbar reported, was to deter Israel from launching any future attack on Lebanon. “We hope the enemy, like our friends, will understand Hezbollah’s willingness to stop any Israeli threat,” stated Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s secretary general and the commander of the military exercise. “Today, we are stronger [than last year] in terms of will, determination, faith, morals, finances, brains, measures, presence in the field and preparations for the confrontation. Nothing intimidates us.”

The large-scale maneuvers leaked by Hezbollah to the media are under dispute by the Lebanese government and the United Nations force in Lebanon, which both claim they were mere “simulations on paper.” Of course, the embarrassment of such exercises being conducted by a terrorist organization right under their noses would be reason enough for the Lebanese government and, especially, the UN to deny them. Security sources confirmed the drills did indeed occur, albeit not on the scale claimed by Hezbollah. Such terrorist entities do have a tendency to play up their capabilities—for the same reason as they conduct terror operations: to cause fear.

Though the extent of these latest maneuvers has not been confirmed, Hezbollah has already shown it has considerable military capability and is prepared to use it. Last year, Hezbollah held the Israel Defense Forces at bay for 34 days before Israel conceded victory by agreeing to a cease-fire. Since then, Hezbollah has bounced back from its war with Israel stronger and better armed than ever. Just a few months after the war ended, Hezbollah reportedly had 20,000 missiles on hand, and more have continued to be smuggled into southern Lebanon since then. By releasing information on its military drills—a change in tactic by an organization that is usually more secretive—Hezbollah is revealing an increased confidence to match its firepower. Rather than being an effort to deter Israel, the exercises—presuming they did in fact occur—were more likely to prepare for war.

Hezbollah gained much in last year’s war with Israel—but it has not reached its goal. Hezbollah doctrine calls for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state. Nasrallah stated on Al-Manar television in February 2005, “Israel is our enemy. This is an aggressive, illegal, and illegitimate entity, which has no future in our land. Its destiny is manifested in our motto: ‘Death to Israel.’”

“Death to Israel.” There is clearly more to Hezbollah’s military buildup than a simple desire to prevent an invasion of Lebanon. Its purpose is, as stated, the annihilation of the Jewish state. That is one reason why it lobs rockets into Israeli population centers as a matter of routine, even when it is not engaged in all-out war with the Israel Defense Forces.

Watch for terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, Fatah and Hamas to take more and more aggressive stances against Israel in the near future. If Israel is to survive the coming attacks from all sides, it will need help from a strong hand from someplace. For more information regarding the future of Israel, read Jerusalem in Prophecy by Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry.