Barak: Hezbollah getting stronger

GOLAN HEIGHTS, Israel, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak says the Lebanese Arab militant group Hezbollah is getting stronger and needs to be closely monitored.

Barak made the comments Tuesday while attending live-ammunition training exercises by the Israeli military forces in the occupied Golan Heights near Syria, the Israeli Web site Ynetnews.com reported.

"We are seeing a significant strengthening by Hezbollah in the past few years," Barak told Ynetnews. "We're monitoring any possibility of a shift in balance (of power) due to the Syrians supplying Hezbollah with advanced weapons systems."

Asked if the Golan Heights activities were meant to send a message to Syria and Hezbollah, Barak said, "The fact that we're conducting a live-ammunition training drill, with all the (relevant) commanders and troops, is a pivotal part of the moves led by the chief of staff in the past 18 months."