Israel's army said Wednesday it has uncovered a unit created by Hizbullah across the ceasefire line in the Syrian Golan Heights and led by a commander previously jailed over an attack on US forces.
With President Bashar al-Assad regaining control of southern Syria with the help of Russia and Hizbullah backer Iran, Israel is concerned a front against it could be established there.
Hizbullah, based in neighbouring Lebanon, has also been supporting Assad in Syria's civil war.
The Shiite group is among Israel's main enemies and the two fought a war in 2006.
Israel said the new unit had been established without Assad's knowledge, and some Israeli media reported that part of the aim in publicising it was in hopes Syria and Russia would move to stop it.