Hezbollah has spent the past three months preparing for a possible resumption of hostilities with Israel, using a fresh injection of Iranian money to rebuild its military capabilities, replenish weapons and restore command structures damaged during previous battles, according to Lebanese security sources familiar with the group’s activities.

The group has focused on procuring explosives and producing attack drones capable of striking Israeli positions, two Lebanese security sources told Reuters. One of the sources and another person close to Hezbollah said Iran had provided tens of millions of dollars to help strengthen its military capabilities.

The funding comes as Hezbollah prepares for a possible escalation between the United States and Iran that could reignite fighting on the Lebanese front. The group is on alert for such a scenario but has not yet fully replenished its weapons stockpiles or restored its fighting force, the sources said.

Hezbollah’s preparations also involve restocking explosives. The group acknowledged this month that explosives seized by Lebanese authorities belonged to it and were intended for use against Israel. A Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security source told Reuters the explosives were specifically intended for attack drones.

Iran has also provided about $200 million to help displaced families in Hezbollah’s Shi’ite heartlands, Reuters reported earlier this month, in addition to the tens of millions of dollars that sources say Tehran has supplied for military purposes.

Rebuilding after battlefield losses

Restoring its command structure remains a major challenge for Hezbollah following battles in key locations, including the southern town of Bint Jbeil and the strategically important Ali al-Taher ridge, according to the security officials.

They said Hezbollah’s use of small combat units and its efforts to ration anti-tank missiles had left some units isolated during fighting. Those forces struggled to counter Israel’s remotely operated systems, including armed drones and weaponized remote-controlled vehicles.

The Israeli military told Reuters that it uses remotely operated systems to monitor southern Lebanon and reduce the risks to its troops.

Hezbollah’s media office rejected the suggestion that its command-and-control systems had broken down. It told Reuters that Israel’s occupation of Lebanese territory made resistance a legitimate right.