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Israeli defense officials say Hamas is working closely with Hezbollah and Iran to revive and strengthen the so-called “axis of resistance,” even as the IDF expands operations in Gaza and southern Lebanon. The assessment, shared on Thursday, follows a series of Israeli strikes targeting militant infrastructure on both fronts.
Senior officials said cooperation between Hamas’s military wing, Hezbollah operatives, and Iranian advisers has intensified since the ceasefire took hold. The groups are reportedly working to rebuild networks, restore weapons routes, and prepare for a potential new confrontation with Israel.
The warning comes days after a targeted IDF operation eliminated the commander of Hamas’s Zeitoun Battalion in Gaza. The strike is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt what military leaders describe as a rapid and concerning rebuilding of Hamas’s military capabilities.
Southern Command sources said Hamas has been recruiting new operatives, gathering intelligence, and conducting training sessions inside the Strip. According to those sources, the militant group is searching for an opportunity to launch a limited, surprise attack on IDF forces operating in Palestinian territory, in violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor, head of the Southern Command, is said to support a more forceful approach to curbing Hamas’s rebuilding efforts. Division commanders have backed assessments warning that the current activity could lead to a renewed outbreak of hostilities if left unchecked.
Tensions Quiet Above Ground, But Pressure Rises in Lebanon
On the northern border, Israeli defense officials say Hezbollah continues to act in clear violation of ceasefire understandings. The organization, backed by Iran, is reportedly rebuilding terrorist infrastructure, facilitating weapons smuggling into southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, and conducting intensified training for future attacks.
Recent Israeli airstrikes have targeted Hezbollah operatives and facilities involved in these rebuilding efforts. Military officials say the strikes aim to prevent the group from re-establishing significant capabilities along the frontier.
Despite pressure from within the defense establishment for a stronger response, US diplomatic influence is currently restraining Israel from escalating in Lebanon. Northern Command leadership has reportedly pushed for broader action, but Washington fears an expanded conflict could destabilize the region.
Netanyahu’s Syria Visit Signals Strategic Concerns
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent visit to Syria—with the defense minister, foreign minister, and Shin Bet director—was intended to send a dual message: that Israel will retain the security belt on the Syrian Golan Heights, and that it will not accept US-backed rapprochement efforts that undermine its security.
The visit followed comments by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa suggesting he is open to normalizing ties with Israel in exchange for a full IDF withdrawal from the Golan. Israeli security officials dismissed the offer, saying al-Sharaa’s “jihadist past” cannot be ignored and warning that his actual control over Syria remains questionable.
They also expressed skepticism over the warming dialogue between Washington and Damascus, mediated by Turkey. While the US recently lifted a longstanding bounty on al-Sharaa, Israeli officials insist this does not reflect real changes on the ground.
A Fragile Balance Across Two Fronts
The growing coordination among Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran—paired with ceasefire violations and ongoing weapons transfers—has fueled concerns within Israel’s defense establishment about a simultaneous escalation on both the Gaza and Lebanon fronts.
While the IDF continues targeted, limited operations, officials warn that the window for preventive action may be narrowing.
For now, Israeli military responses remain constrained by US diplomatic pressure. But senior commanders caution that without stronger steps to counter the militants’ rebuilding efforts, Israel may soon face a more dangerous and coordinated threat spanning its northern and southern borders.