Lebanese security officials say the Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah has been preparing for the past three months in case of a possible resumption of war with Israel after receiving funding from Iran.
Hezbollah has suffered a severe setback in two wars with Israel since 2024, in which thousands of its fighters and several leaders were killed and most of its weapons were destroyed.
The occupying Israeli forces now occupy villages in southern Lebanon that are considered the group’s stronghold, while political pressure has also increased on the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah.
Despite all this, the group is determined to fight Israel, according to the news agency, and Lebanese security sources have told Reuters that Hezbollah has used the lull in hostilities since June to rearm. During this time, its special focus has been on acquiring explosives and preparing drones.
The sources told the news agency that Hezbollah has received millions of dollars from Iran to boost its military capabilities. This is in addition to the approximately $200 million that Iran has given the group to help displaced families.
According to three other security officials familiar with Hezbollah’s operations, Hezbollah is also rebuilding its “command and control” structure that was shattered during the war. In response to questions from Reuters, Hezbollah’s media office said that Israel’s occupation of Lebanese territory made any resistance against it a legitimate right.
Hezbollah is on alert in the face of potential tensions between the United States and Iran, which could potentially reignite the Lebanese front. However, the sources told Reuters that the group has not yet managed to fully prepare its reserves and manpower.
Hezbollah is still building up its weapons stockpiles and this month admitted that explosives seized by Lebanese authorities belonged to it and were intended to be used against Israel. A Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security source told Reuters that the material was specifically for its explosive drones.
