WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The U.S. intelligence community regards Hizbullah as a major threat in wake of its war with Israel in 2006.

Officials said the intelligence community has assessed that Hizbullah would comprise the key military proxy of Iran in any war against the United States. They said Hizbullah could be used against U.S. targets in Iraq, Lebanon and throughout the Middle East.

"As a result of last summer's hostilities, Hizbullah's self-confidence and hostility toward the United States as a supporter of Israel could cause the group to increase its contingency planning against United States interests," U.S. National Intelligence director John Negroponte said.

In testimony to the Senate Select Intelligence Committee on Jan. 11, Negroponte said Hizbullah's war against Israel has increased the confidence of the Shi'ite militia. He said Syria has also "grown more confident about its regional policies, largely due to what it sees as vindication of its support to Hizbullah and Hamas and its perceptions of its success in overcoming international attempts to isolate the regime."