As Hezbollah focuses on safeguarding the ceasefire with Israel, small armed groups have reportedly taken advantage of the situation, looting the group’s weapons depots and selling stolen arms on the black market, security sources revealed. 

In the past two months, thieves have raided Hezbollah facilities in Beirut’s southern suburbs and on the outskirts of Choueifat, a town in Aley District. The thefts occurred in predominantly Shiite neighborhoods, home to clans from the Bekaa Valley, Al Arabiya.net/Al Hadath.net reported, citing security officials.

Stolen items, including weapons, ammunition, and bullet crates, were then sold to arms dealers, bypassing Lebanese security forces.

Similar incidents have been reported in several towns south of the Litani River, an area covered by UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which restricts armed activity.

The Lebanese army has arrested several individuals in connection with the thefts. The suspects claimed they were scrap metal traders collecting brass and copper for resale.

Security sources suggest that Hezbollah has struggled to maintain control over some of its arms depots in Beirut’s southern suburbs, the Bekaa, and the south. The threat of Israeli airstrikes has made it difficult for the group’s fighters to access and secure these sites.

Sources also noted increasing logistical challenges in transferring missiles and drones, particularly from south of the Litani River to the north, further complicating Hezbollah’s military operations.

Meanwhile, Lebanese army units have reportedly seized a significant quantity of Hezbollah’s weapons in the south. Likewise, Israeli forces confiscated large stockpiles of the group’s arsenal during their recent military campaign. These seizures occurred in multiple towns along a 100-kilometer stretch from Ras Naqoura’s coastline to the outskirts of the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms.

Despite these setbacks, Hezbollah has managed to reinforce its presence in parts of the Bekaa Valley, while its operational capacity in southern Lebanon appears to have weakened, sources said.