Hezbollah Spends Tens of Millions in Three Months to Restore Drone Capacity

Lebanese security officials report that Hezbollah has spent the last three months rearming after receiving a new infusion of cash from Iran. The militia is preparing for a possible return to hostilities with Israel.

The group was founded by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in 1982. It suffered severe losses in two wars with Israel since 2024. Thousands of fighters and many leaders were killed, and much of its arsenal was destroyed.

IDF troops currently occupy a security zone in southern Lebanon. Political pressure in Beirut has increased for the group’s disarmament. Despite this, Hezbollah remains committed to attacking Israel. It has used the lull in fighting since June to procure explosives and produce drones. These drones are intended to fly into the Israeli-held zone.

Two Lebanese security sources told Reuters that the group received tens of millions of dollars from Iran to boost its military capabilities. This sum is in addition to approximately $200 million that Hezbollah received from Tehran earlier this month. One source and another official close to the group confirmed the funding.

The militia is also restoring command-and-control structures that collapsed during key battles. One source and three other security officials familiar with operations said these systems broke down. Hezbollah’s media office rejected the idea that its command systems had failed.

The Israeli military declined to comment. Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters. A US State Department spokesman said Washington would continue to strangle Hezbollah’s finances through sanctions. A US Treasury spokesperson stated that Iran is running out of money and methods to move it.

Tensions in the region remain high following the US-Israeli war with Iran that began in February. Hezbollah attacked Israel on March 2 to support Iran. This triggered an Israeli response that led to the evacuation of thousands of people, mostly from Hezbollah’s Shi’ite Muslim constituency, from southern Lebanon.

Hostilities largely stopped over the summer when an interim Iran-US deal included a Lebanon ceasefire. Washington mediated talks between Lebanon and Israel. Full-scale fighting has not resumed despite the collapse of the US-Iranian deal, though Israel continues strikes on targets in the south.

Sources said Hezbollah is on alert for a potential US-Iran escalation that could reignite the Lebanon front. The group has not yet fully prepared its stockpiles or fighting force. It is still restocking supplies.

Hezbollah acknowledged this month that explosives seized by Lebanese authorities belonged to it. A Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security source said the items were intended for use against Israel. Specifically, they were for the group’s explosive drones.

The militia must repair command capabilities after losses on key fronts, including the town of Bint Jbeil and the Ali al-Taher ridge. Officials said Hezbollah’s tactic of operating in small units left some isolated. These units struggled against Israeli remotely operated systems, including weaponized drones and armed remote-controlled vehicles.

The Israeli military told Reuters it uses these systems to monitor southern Lebanon and reduce threat exposure to troops. Hezbollah has not explicitly stated whether it will join fresh hostilities. Its media office said it was wary of giving Israeli leaders justification to escalate efforts against the group.