Hezbollah is facing one of its most challenging periods in southern Lebanon as mounting military, logistical and political pressures erode its operational capabilities, according to Lebanese military and political sources, who say the group is struggling to replenish weapons, replace fighters and sustain frontline positions under increasingly restrictive security conditions.

The sources told Erem News that Hezbollah has encountered growing difficulties in delivering weapons and logistical supplies to what they described as "isolated" positions after key supply routes were severed. The challenges have intensified as the Lebanese Army expands its deployment along major and secondary roads under the so-called "pilot phases" of the framework agreement with Israel.

At the same time, the sources said arms smuggling from Syria into Lebanon has declined by nearly 30% over the past two months, further complicating Hezbollah's efforts to replenish its arsenal.

According to the sources, officers from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have been deployed to several Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon, where they are working to improve the range and guidance accuracy of the group's missiles and drones. They are also retraining personnel who had previously been assigned to transporting food, water and daily supplies between military positions, in an effort to compensate for manpower shortages caused by recent Israeli strikes.

Arms Shortages Deepen

A Lebanese military source familiar with the matter told Erem News that Hezbollah forces deployed in southern Lebanon are experiencing shortages of certain categories of weapons following tighter monitoring of arms-smuggling routes from Syria through the Iraqi border.

The source said the crackdown stems from security and intelligence cooperation between the Lebanese Army and the authorities in Damascus aimed at strengthening border control.

As a result, IRGC specialists have shifted their focus toward enhancing the technical capabilities of the missiles and drones already in Hezbollah's possession, seeking to offset the loss of weapons depots destroyed in Israeli airstrikes, particularly those targeting the group's tunnel network.

Recruiting Becomes Increasingly Difficult

A senior Lebanese political figure told Erem News that Hezbollah is also encountering growing difficulty in recruiting new fighters in southern Lebanon.

The source said Lebanese Army security measures imposed on residents returning to border villages include extensive screening procedures designed to prevent militants from infiltrating civilian populations.

He added that Hezbollah's financial difficulties, exacerbated by tighter restrictions on its funding channels, have undermined its ability to pay salaries and financial entitlements, making it harder to attract new recruits to replace fighters lost during recent confrontations with Israel.

According to the source, the Lebanese Army's expanded deployment throughout southern Lebanon and its tighter control over village entrances and access roads form part of broader security arrangements linked to implementing the framework agreement with Israel in coordination with the United States, particularly in the designated "pilot areas."

Military and Political Pressures Mount

Lebanese political analyst Qassem Youssef said Hezbollah has suffered severe blows in recent months that have targeted its military infrastructure and field commanders, resulting in significant losses at strategic positions and forcing the organization to rebuild its capabilities.

Speaking to Erem News, Youssef said Hezbollah is confronting not only logistical challenges but also growing discontent within its traditional support base, as criticism increases that the group's military decisions are driven more by Iranian strategic interests than by Lebanon's national priorities.

He said the shortages of weapons and personnel reflect the extent of Hezbollah's attrition, warning that any new military confrontation under current conditions would carry an exceptionally high cost.

Youssef added that the group's human losses have been particularly severe in southern Lebanon, where it lost numerous field units and commanders, while several senior military officials were killed in successive targeted assassinations, weakening the cohesion of its military structure.

He concluded that domestic pressure is increasing on Hezbollah to reposition its forces and hand over its military sites to the Lebanese Army. However, he argued that the final decision remains tied to Tehran, which, in his assessment, continues to reject relinquishing Hezbollah's arsenal and regards it as one of Iran's most important instruments of influence in southern Lebanon.