Hezbollah Rebuilds Drone Fleet and Command Links in Three Months

The conflict in the Middle East has entered a new phase as Hezbollah works to restore its military capabilities. The group has spent the last three months preparing for a potential return to war with Israel, according to Lebanese security personnel briefed on its activities.

Two Lebanese security sources told Reuters that Hezbollah received tens of millions of dollars from Iran to boost its military hardware. This new funding supplements approximately $200 million the group previously received from Tehran, a sum reported by Reuters earlier this month. The cash is being directed toward procuring explosives and manufacturing drones designed to operate within the security zone currently occupied by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

Security officials indicate that the group is also repairing its command-and-control structures, which collapsed during key battles in recent wars. One source and three other security officials familiar with the operations described the restoration efforts as a priority. However, Hezbollah's media office rejected the idea that its systems had been broken down when asked about the reports. Israel's military and Iran's UN mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the rebuilding process.

The reconstruction efforts come amid continued tensions following the US-Israeli war with Iran, which began in February. Hezbollah entered the fight on March 2 to support Iran, triggering an Israeli response that resulted in the evacuation of many residents from southern Lebanon. Hostilities largely paused over the summer due to an interim Iran-US deal that included a Lebanon ceasefire. Although full-scale fighting has not resumed since the collapse of that deal, Israel continues to strike Hezbollah targets in the south.

Officials state that Hezbollah remains on alert for a possible escalation between the United States and Iran, which could reignite the Lebanon front. The sources noted that the group has not yet fully prepared its stockpiles or fighting force. A Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security source confirmed that explosives seized by Lebanese authorities this month belonged to the group and were intended for use in its explosive drones.

The group faces specific challenges in restoring its tactical capabilities, particularly in the Bint Jbeil area and the Ali al-Taher ridge. Officials said that Hezbollah's previous tactic of operating in small units and rationing anti-tank rockets left some fighters isolated against Israeli remotely operated systems. These systems include weaponized drones and armed remote-controlled vehicles, which the Israeli military says it uses to monitor southern Lebanon and reduce troop exposure.

A US State Department spokesman said Washington would continue to restrict Hezbollah's finances through sanctions. A US Treasury spokesperson added that Iran is running out of money and methods to move funds. Hezbollah has not explicitly stated whether it will join fresh hostilities, but its media office said it is cautious about giving Israeli leaders a reason to escalate anti-Hezbollah efforts.

Hezbollah was founded by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in 1982. The group has suffered severe losses in two wars with Israel since 2024, with thousands of fighters and many leaders killed and much of its arsenal destroyed. Political pressure in Beirut has increased for the group's disarmament as Israeli troops maintain their position in the southern security zone.