Israel says it is better capable of taking military action against Lebanon now than it was in 2006, when it waged war on the country.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak stepped up threats against Lebanon on Wednesday, saying that Tel Aviv is better geared for war now compared to the second Lebanon war in July 2006.

Barak claimed that the Israeli military has been upgraded under financial constraints in order to keep pace with Hezbollah's capabilities.

"This is not the first time that the Israelis threaten Lebanon. There have been a lot of threats ever since the end of the July war in 2006 and its humiliating defeat has been a blow to the whole Israeli military institution," political analyst Ibrahim Moussawi told Press TV correspondent Nadine Mazloum on Wednesday.

Mazloum added that the Hezbollah resistance movement has prepared a comprehensive training program and is ready to act against any Israeli aggression.

Israel fought a 33-day war against Hezbollah in the summer of 2006 to destroy the military power of the Lebanese resistance. According to a recently published Winograd report, the attack backfired to wreak a humiliating defeat on Israel.

As Barak now seeks to become prime minister, many experts believe that his threats were merely directed at bolstering his chances of winning the upcoming Israeli snap elections.

Early elections were called after Kadima leader Tzipi Livni failed to achieve unity among political parties and was thus unable to form a coalition government. -Agencies