Hezbollah rebuilds drone units with fresh Iranian cash

Residents of southern Lebanon face a renewed threat from the north as Hezbollah works to rebuild its military capacity. The group has spent the last three months preparing for a possible return to war with Israel. This effort follows a direct cash injection from Tehran. Lebanese security personnel briefed on the activities say the group is focusing on procuring explosives and producing drones.

Two Lebanese security sources told Reuters that Hezbollah received tens of millions of dollars from Iran to boost its capabilities. This new funding is separate from an earlier transfer of approximately $200 million reported this month. The money is being used to fix command and control structures that collapsed during major battles. Four security officials familiar with the group's operations confirmed that these broken systems are being restored.

Hezbollah was founded by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in 1982. It has suffered severe losses in two wars with Israel since 2024. Thousands of fighters and many leaders have been killed. Much of the group's arsenal was destroyed in those conflicts. Despite these setbacks, the organization remains committed to attacking Israel.

The current lull in hostilities has lasted since June. This pause allowed the group to rearm. It has not yet fully prepared its stockpiles or fighting force. This month, Hezbollah acknowledged that explosives seized by Lebanese authorities belonged to it. A Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security source said those explosives were intended for explosive drones.

The group struggled to fight the Israeli Defense Forces in key areas. One Lebanese source and three security officials noted that losses occurred in the town of Bint Jbeil and the Ali al-Taher ridge. Hezbollah's tactic of using small units and rationing anti-tank rockets left some groups isolated. These units struggled against Israeli remotely operated systems, including weaponized drones and armed remote-controlled vehicles.

Israel's military uses these remote systems to monitor southern Lebanon. The goal is to reduce the threat exposure for troops. Israel's military declined to comment on the reports. Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva did not immediately respond to questions. A US State Department spokesman said Washington would continue to restrict Hezbollah's finances through sanctions.

A US Treasury spokesperson stated that Iran is running out of money and ways to move it. Hezbollah's media office rejected the suggestion that its command systems had broken down. The group is on alert for a potential escalation between the US and Iran. Such an event could reignite the Lebanon front. The group has not explicitly said whether it would join fresh hostilities.

Its media office said it was wary of giving Israeli leaders justification to escalate efforts against the group. The US-Israeli war with Iran began in February. Hezbollah attacked Israel in support of Iran on March 2. That action triggered an Israeli response and the evacuation of many residents from the south. Hostilities largely abated over the summer following an interim deal that included a Lebanon ceasefire.