Israel: Regional threats growing

JERUSALEM, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- An Israeli defense official said the country is facing growing dangers from Iran, Syria and the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Yossi Baidatz, head of research for Israeli Military Intelligence, said the government of Iran is not in danger of collapsing and may have nuclear capability by the close of 2009, Ynetnews reported Tuesday.

Baidatz also told the Knesset's Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee in a briefing Tuesday that Syria is increasing the size of its arsenal and Hezbollah is gaining strength in Lebanon.

"Hezbollah is learning how to live with UNIFL (the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon) and they are getting stronger. They carried out a training exercise to convey two messages: one, that they are unfazed by Israeli military maneuvers and, two, as an internal message to showcase Hezbollah's strength in Lebanon," Baidatz said.

The intelligence chief said Syria is upgrading its military with Russian-made anti-tank weapons and anti-aircraft systems. Baidatz said the country's government is also helping to transfer weapons from Iran to Hezbollah.