Israel’s defense establishment has identified a rise in Hezbollah’s attempts to smuggle weapons from Syria into Lebanon, as the group seeks to rebuild and replenish its military capabilities during the ongoing ceasefire, Israeli Channel 12 reported.

An Israeli security official cited by the network said Iran was financing and directing the smuggling operation through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, which continues to oversee the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah.

The reported increase comes despite repeated seizures of weapons by the Syrian and Lebanese armies in recent months. Israeli security officials, however, believe that a significant number of shipments are still making it across the border undetected.

“Hezbollah is exploiting the ceasefire to build up its strength, and there has therefore been an increase in smuggling attempts through Syria,” the security official told Channel 12. “We assess that many shipments are getting through without being detected.”

The assessment underscores the challenges facing efforts to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military infrastructure while the ceasefire remains in place. According to the report, Syria continues to serve as a key route for transferring weapons into Lebanon, with Iran playing a central role in financing and coordinating the network.