Reuters reported, citing Lebanese security officials familiar with Hezbollah’s activities, that the group spent three months preparing for the possibility of renewed fighting with Israel after receiving cash funding from Iran.
Two Lebanese security sources told Reuters that Hezbollah has took advantage of te pause in fighting since June to rearm, purchase explosives and produce drones that could be directed at Israeli positions.
One of the sources and another source close to Hezbollah said the group had received millions of dollars from Iran to help strengthen its military capabilities. This was in addition to about $200 million Tehran had provided to help displaced families in Hezbollah strongholds.
One of the two sources and three other security officials familiar with Hezbollah’s operations said the group was working to rebuild its command-and-control structures, which had collapsed during decisive battles.
In response to questions from Reuters, Hezbollah’s media office said Israel’s occupation of Lebanese territory makes any resistance to it a legitimate right. The office rejected the suggestion that the group’s command-and-control systems had collapsed.
A US State Department spokesperson said Washington would continue to choke off Hezbollah’s financial resources through sanctions and other measures. A US Treasury Department spokesperson said Iran was running out of money, as well as ways to transfer it.
Sources told Reuters that Hezbollah had not yet fully replenished its stockpiles or restored its fighting forces. The group is still rearming and acknowledged this month that explosives seized by Lebanese authorities belonged to it and were intended for use against Israel. A Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security source told Reuters that the explosives were specifically intended for its explosive drones.
One Lebanese source and three security officials said Hezbollah would also need to rebuild its command-and-control capabilities following losses on key fronts, including the tense town of Bint Jbeil and the strategically important Ali al-Taher hill.
They said Hezbollah’s approach of operating in small units and conserving its anti-tank missiles had left some units isolated on those fronts, struggling to counter Israeli remote-operated systems, including armed drones and remotely operated vehicles.
The Israeli army told Reuters that it uses remotely operated systems to monitor southern Lebanon and reduce the exposure of its troops to threats.
Hezbollah has not explicitly said whether it would take part in the event of a new round of fighting. However, its media office said the group was wary of giving Israeli leaders any pretext to escalate in Lebanon, particularly as it fears its supporters could be displaced once again.
Two Lebanese security sources told Reuters that Hezbollah has took advantage of te pause in fighting since June to rearm, purchase explosives and produce drones that could be directed at Israeli positions.
One of the sources and another source close to Hezbollah said the group had received millions of dollars from Iran to help strengthen its military capabilities. This was in addition to about $200 million Tehran had provided to help displaced families in Hezbollah strongholds.
One of the two sources and three other security officials familiar with Hezbollah’s operations said the group was working to rebuild its command-and-control structures, which had collapsed during decisive battles.
In response to questions from Reuters, Hezbollah’s media office said Israel’s occupation of Lebanese territory makes any resistance to it a legitimate right. The office rejected the suggestion that the group’s command-and-control systems had collapsed.
A US State Department spokesperson said Washington would continue to choke off Hezbollah’s financial resources through sanctions and other measures. A US Treasury Department spokesperson said Iran was running out of money, as well as ways to transfer it.
Sources told Reuters that Hezbollah had not yet fully replenished its stockpiles or restored its fighting forces. The group is still rearming and acknowledged this month that explosives seized by Lebanese authorities belonged to it and were intended for use against Israel. A Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security source told Reuters that the explosives were specifically intended for its explosive drones.
One Lebanese source and three security officials said Hezbollah would also need to rebuild its command-and-control capabilities following losses on key fronts, including the tense town of Bint Jbeil and the strategically important Ali al-Taher hill.
They said Hezbollah’s approach of operating in small units and conserving its anti-tank missiles had left some units isolated on those fronts, struggling to counter Israeli remote-operated systems, including armed drones and remotely operated vehicles.
The Israeli army told Reuters that it uses remotely operated systems to monitor southern Lebanon and reduce the exposure of its troops to threats.
Hezbollah has not explicitly said whether it would take part in the event of a new round of fighting. However, its media office said the group was wary of giving Israeli leaders any pretext to escalate in Lebanon, particularly as it fears its supporters could be displaced once again.
