The former head of Israel’s military intelligence on Monday presented the country’s president with an annual security assessment, which highlights Hezbollah as the country’s most potent threat.

Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin presented President Reuven Rivlin with the strategic assessment for 2016 – 2017 on behalf of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), which he now leads.

The report argues that Hezbollah still represents the most serious conventional threat to Israel’s security. It details Hezbollah’s long-range missiles, precision missiles, attack and suicide drones, advanced sea-to-air missiles, Russian-manufactured air defenses, and infantry units training to capture Israeli territory in a future conflict.

Other assessments have estimated that Hezbollah has an arsenal of around 100,000 rockets with a range covering all of Israel. Israeli military officials also recently estimated that there are 10,000 Hezbollah positions, including infrastructure and armaments, placed within 200 villages and towns close to the Israeli-Lebanese border.

The INSS report also says that Iran poses the second most serious security threat to Israel. Although the 2015 nuclear deal has given Israel short-term respite, the report says the deal gives Iran time to develop its conventional weapons arsenal which will make Iran a stronger adversary in the mid to long-term.

Hamas is ranked as the third most potent threat to Israel. Although conflict with Hamas has been minimal since Operation Protective Edge in 2014, the report says that Hamas is rebuilding its weapons arsenal and that violent incidents or a socio-economic crisis in Gaza could lead to future conflict with Israel.

(via BICOM)

[Photo: BICOM ]