"Conducting these exercises in this area does not at all mean that they are connected to a possible conflict," Peretz told public radio, referring to media reports of impending military confrontation with Syria, from which Israel seized the Golan in the 1967 Middle East war.

"These exercises are the army's most important for five years and mainly intend to absorb lessons learnt from the war," he added, referring to last year's July-August conflict with Shiite militant group Hezbollah.

Warplanes and a regiment of paratroopers were taking part in the maneuvres, as well as infantry, mechanized units, artillery, and sappers.

The exercise came after a senior military intelligence officer sparked renewed controversy in Israel about the effectiveness of last summer's conflict in degrading Hezbollah's offensive capabilities.

"Hezbollah has reinforced and it is stronger today than it was before the war in Lebanon," Brigadier General Yossi Beidatz told the Israeli parliament's foreign affairs and defense committee Monday.

But Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has been under fire at home for the war's perceived failings alongside his defense minister, insisted Wednesday: "I think Hezbollah is weaker, much weaker, than they were.

"I don't think they have any appetite to fight with Israel again," he told an annual news conference with foreign correspondents in Jerusalem.

Speaking alongside Peretz at the launch of Wednesday's war games, army chief Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi also leapt to the defense of the military.

"Hezbollah is trying to recover the capabilities that it lost during the recent war. I think we're all agreed that they haven't got there yet," he said.

Deputy Prime-Minister Shimon Peres jumped into the fray Tuesday,.

"I guess they've got more weapons but I don't see that as any cause for hysteria," he said.

The Israeli government has rejected peace overtures made by Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in recent months, saying Damascus must first stop supporting militant groups in Lebanon and Gaza.

Syria has repeatedly demanded back the Golan, which Israel unilaterally annexed in 1981, and where more than 15,000 settlers now live.

Peace talks between the two countries collapsed in 2000, in part because of disputes over the return of the strategic plateau.

The Israeli Army, military helicopters are seen during an infantry unit's drill in the Golan Heights, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007

Sources: Middle East Times, Ya Libnan