Hezbollah spends millions rebuilding drone and command capabilities

Lebanese security officials report that Hezbollah has spent the last three months preparing for a potential return to war with Israel.

Two sources close to the group's operations said Hezbollah received tens of millions of dollars from Iran to boost its military capabilities. This funding supplements an earlier injection of approximately $200 million from Tehran that was reported earlier this month.

The group, which was founded by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in 1982, suffered heavy losses in two wars with Israel since 2024. Thousands of fighters and many senior leaders were killed, and a large portion of its arsenal was destroyed. Despite these setbacks, the group remains committed to attacking Israel.

Security personnel briefed on the activities described a focus on procuring explosives and producing drones designed to fly into the security zone currently occupied by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. One source and another official close to Hezbollah confirmed the financial support from Iran was intended to help restore the group's military strength.

According to one source and three other security officials familiar with the group's operations, Hezbollah is working to restore command and control structures that collapsed during key battles. These systems broke down in critical areas, including the town of Bint Jbeil and the Ali al-Taher ridge. Officials noted that the group's tactic of using small units and rationing anti-tank rockets left some forces isolated when facing Israel's remotely operated systems.

The Israeli military told Reuters it uses remotely operated systems, including weaponized drones and armed remote-controlled vehicles, to monitor southern Lebanon and reduce the threat exposure for its troops. In response to questions, Hezbollah's media office rejected the idea that its command and control systems had broken down.

Israel's military declined to comment on the group's rearmament efforts. Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva did not immediately respond to inquiries from Reuters. A US State Department spokesman said Washington would continue to restrict Hezbollah's finances through sanctions. A US Treasury spokesperson stated that Iran was running out of money and methods to move funds.

The rearmament effort occurs amid continued tensions in the Middle East, a region shaped by the US-Israeli war with Iran that began in February. Hezbollah attacked Israel on March 2 in support of Iran, an action that triggered an Israeli response and led to the evacuation of many residents from southern Lebanon. Hostilities largely decreased over the summer as an interim deal between Iran and the US included a ceasefire in Lebanon. Washington also mediated talks between Lebanon and Israel.

Full-scale fighting has not resumed in Lebanon despite the collapse of the US-Iranian deal, although Israel continues strikes on Hezbollah targets in the south. The group is on alert for a potential escalation between the US and Iran that could reignite the front. Sources told Reuters that Hezbollah has not yet fully prepared its stockpiles or fighting force. The group acknowledged this month that explosives seized by Lebanese authorities were intended for use against Israel. A Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security source specified that the seized materials were for its explosive drones. The group's media office said it was wary of giving Israeli leaders justification to escalate efforts against it.