Hezbollah has received new Iranian directives to raise its military readiness in anticipation of a possible regional war, while reorganizing its forces to operate with greater independence if Israeli strikes disrupt its central command, Lebanese security and military sources told Erem News.

The sources said the group was activating a new combat structure designed to give field units greater autonomy and reduce the impact of potential Israeli attacks on its senior leadership.

The preparations coincide with the reported recall of all full-time Hezbollah personnel receiving monthly salaries, as well as secret internal instructions directing them to report to new duty stations under arrangements that differ from those used in previous confrontations, the sources said.

The directives are part of ongoing coordination between Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the leadership of its regional allies. The coordination includes preparations for a possible expansion of the confrontation involving Israel and the United States, as well as plans for coordinated military responses should a new war erupt, according to the sources.

They stressed, however, that the instructions should be understood as preparations for a scenario Tehran considers potentially imminent, not as confirmation that a final decision to enter the war has been made.

The changes go beyond conventional mobilization and reflect an effort to overhaul how Hezbollah organizes and conducts military operations, the sources said.

A War Without a Single Command Center

One of the most significant changes underway is the adoption of a model inspired by Iran’s “mosaic defense” doctrine, which distributes military responsibilities among separate formations and reduces reliance on a centralized chain of command, the sources said.

Hezbollah is working to ensure that its units can continue operating even if they lose contact with senior commanders, following the setbacks the group suffered from Israeli assassinations and intelligence penetrations, they added.

An internal review reportedly found that concentrating authority in the hands of a limited number of senior commanders had left the group’s military structure more vulnerable to disruption when those leaders were targeted.

The move toward decentralized command did not begin in recent days. Reuters reported in March that the IRGC had sent about 100 officers to Lebanon after the November 2024 ceasefire to oversee the retraining of Hezbollah fighters, rearmament and the reorganization of the group into smaller, more autonomous units.

The latest information suggests that Hezbollah is now moving beyond restructuring its forces and working to bring the new system to a higher level of operational readiness ahead of a possible renewed confrontation.

Tehran Directs the Preparations

Iran’s role extends beyond providing money and weapons to include oversight of military rehabilitation and strategic coordination in preparation for possible regional escalation, the sources said.

Tehran is seeking to ensure that its allies can continue operating even if Iranian command centers themselves come under renewed attack, preventing strikes on senior leaders from crippling its broader regional network, they added.

In a study published in March 2026, the U.S.-based Soufan Center examined the IRGC’s “mosaic defense” doctrine, explaining that it is intended to preserve combat capabilities even when central leadership is targeted by distributing responsibilities among relatively independent formations.

The model also carries risks. The center warned that escalation could become more difficult to control as battlefield decisions become less closely tied to the central political leadership.

A “Different Response” With Implications Beyond Lebanon

The sources linked Hezbollah’s current preparations to reports circulating among people close to the group about the nature of its response in a future war, which they expect to differ from previous confrontations.

That does not necessarily mean Hezbollah has greater military capabilities than it had before suffering its losses. Rather, the group appears to be seeking to change how it uses the capabilities it retains, while relying on regional coordination to complicate Israel’s military calculations, the sources said.

In a related development, The Wall Street Journal reported in October that Iran was strengthening its military and strategic defenses in preparation for the possibility of renewed confrontation with the United States.

Israel Steps Up Threats Against Hezbollah

The preparations come as Israel has intensified its warnings to Hezbollah. On Oct. 14, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that any new attack by the group could trigger a broad military response and lead to Lebanon losing additional territory in the south.

The warning comes as UNIFIL’s mandate approaches its expiration and debate continues over what security arrangements might replace the U.N. force, adding another factor to the calculations of both sides.

According to the Lebanese sources, Hezbollah is preparing for a confrontation that could be triggered either by Israel or by developments in the wider conflict involving Iran.

The group nevertheless faces a dual challenge: demonstrating that it retains the ability to deter its adversaries while avoiding drawing Lebanon into another war.

Readiness Does Not Mean Control Over the Timing

Political analyst and researcher Mazen Bilal said Hezbollah’s preparations reflected a shift from recovering from its losses to preparing for the possibility of a broader confrontation, amid rising tensions between Iran on one side and Israel and the United States on the other.

In comments to Erem News, Bilal said the move toward decentralized command and greater authority for field units suggested that Hezbollah was trying to address weaknesses exposed by Israeli assassinations and intelligence penetrations.

But these measures do not necessarily mean the group has recovered its former capabilities or can alter the balance of power, he said.

The greater risk, Bilal added, is that military coordination with Tehran could make the timing of a confrontation dependent on regional calculations that extend beyond Lebanon.