Reuters: Hezbollah Rearms with Iranian Funding in Preparation for New Fighting

Reuters quoted informed Lebanese security officials as saying that the group spent three months preparing for the possibility of resuming hostilities with Israel after receiving cash funding from Iran.

Two Lebanese security sources told Reuters that "the Party" exploited the lull in fighting since June to rearm, focusing on purchasing explosives and producing drones capable of targeting Israeli positions.

One source and another close to Hezbollah said the group received tens of millions of dollars from Iran to help bolster its military capabilities. This comes in addition to approximately $200 million Hezbollah received from Tehran to assist displaced families in its strongholds.

One of these sources and three other security officials familiar with Hezbollah's operations stated that it is working to rebuild command and control structures that collapsed during decisive battles.

In response to questions from Reuters, Hezbollah's Media Office said that Israel's occupation of Lebanese territory "makes any resistance a legitimate right." The office refused to acknowledge that the Party's command and control systems had collapsed.

A US State Department spokesperson said Washington would continue to choke Hezbollah's financial resources through sanctions and other measures. A US Treasury Department spokesperson said Iran's funds were running low, as were its means of transferring money.

Sources told Reuters that the Party had not yet fully equipped its stockpiles or combat forces. Hezbollah continues to restock, acknowledging this month that explosives seized by Lebanese authorities belonged to it and were prepared 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 noted that the Party would also need to rebuild its command and control capabilities after losses on key fronts, including the tense town of Bint Jbeil and the strategic Ali al-Taher Hill.

They pointed out that Hezbollah's tactic of operating in small units and rationing anti-tank missiles left some units isolated on those fronts, struggling to face Israel's remotely operated systems, including armed drones and unmanned ground vehicles.

The Israeli military told Reuters that it uses remotely operated systems to monitor southern Lebanon and reduce exposure of its troops to threats.

Hezbollah did not explicitly state whether it would participate if a new round of hostilities erupted, but its media office indicated it fears giving Israeli leaders any pretext for escalation in Lebanon, especially given the group's concern about displacing its supporters again.