Hezbollah spends months restoring drone production and command lines

Three months of quiet have ended for a group that has been hit hard by two recent wars.

Lebanese security personnel briefed on internal operations say Hezbollah has spent the last three months preparing for a potential return to fighting Israel. This effort follows a fresh injection of cash from Iran. The group, established by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in 1982, suffered severe losses since 2024. Thousands of fighters and many leaders were killed, and much of its arsenal was destroyed during these conflicts.

Two Lebanese security sources told Reuters that the group is focusing on procuring explosives and producing drones. These drones are designed to be flown into the security zone currently occupied by Israeli Defense Forces troops in southern Lebanon. The rearmament is happening during a lull in hostilities that has persisted since June.

Financial support remains a central component of this rebuild. One source and another close to the group said Hezbollah received tens of millions of dollars from Iran to boost its military capabilities. This new funding is separate from approximately $200 million that the group previously received from Tehran. That earlier sum was reported by Reuters earlier this month. The money is being used to address specific operational weaknesses identified during the most recent battles.

A critical part of the recovery involves restoring command-and-control structures that broke down during key engagements. One source and three other security officials familiar with the group's operations confirmed this restoration process. In response to questions from Reuters, Hezbollah's media office rejected the idea that its command systems had collapsed. Israel's military declined to comment, and Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva did not immediately respond to inquiries.

Washington is monitoring the flow of funds closely. A US State Department spokesman said the US would continue to strangle Hezbollah's finances through sanctions and other measures. A US Treasury spokesperson added that Iran was running out of money and ways to move it. These remarks came as tensions in the wider Middle East remain high following the US-Israeli war with Iran that began in February.

The conflict landscape shifted dramatically after Hezbollah attacked Israel in support of Iran on March 2. This move triggered an Israeli response that led to the evacuation of large numbers of people, mostly from the group's Shi'ite Muslim constituency in southern Lebanon. Hostilities largely abated over the summer. An interim Iran-US deal included a Lebanon ceasefire and Washington-mediated talks between Lebanon and Israel. Although full-scale hostilities have not resumed despite the collapse of the US-Iranian deal, Israel continues strikes on Hezbollah members in the south.

Hezbollah is on alert for a possible US-Iran escalation that could reignite the Lebanon front. Sources told Reuters the group has not yet fully prepared its stockpiles or fighting force. It is still restocking. This month, the group acknowledged that explosives seized by Lebanese authorities belonged to it. A Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security source stated those explosives were intended for use against Israel, specifically for its explosive drones.

Operational challenges remain evident in specific flashpoints. The group is repairing command capabilities after losses in Bint Jbeil and the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge. One Lebanese source and three security officials noted that Hezbollah's tactic of operating in small units and rationing anti-tank rockets left some units isolated. These units struggled to confront Israeli remotely operated systems, including weaponized drones and armed remote-controlled vehicles.

The Israeli military stated it uses remotely-operated systems to monitor southern Lebanon and reduce threat exposure for its troops. Hezbollah has not explicitly said whether it would join fresh hostilities. However, its media office said it is wary of giving Israeli leaders any justification to escalate anti-Hezbollah efforts.