Hezbollah Uses Iranian Cash to Rebuild Drone Fleet in Three-Month Push
Lebanese security sources say the militia spent tens of millions on new drones and command systems since June, following a lull in fighting.
By Christopher Singh ·
Hezbollah is attempting to restore its ability to strike Israel after three months of quiet, using fresh cash from Tehran to build new drones. Lebanese security personnel briefed on the group's activities told Reuters that the militia is preparing for a possible return to war. The effort focuses on procuring explosives and producing unmanned aircraft capable of crossing into the security zone occupied by the Israel Defense Forces in southern Lebanon.
The funding for this rebuild includes tens of millions of dollars in new Iranian cash, according to two sources, one of whom is close to the group. This amount is separate from approximately $200 million that Hezbollah previously received from Iran, as reported earlier this month. The money is being directed toward boosting military capabilities that were heavily damaged in two wars with Israel since 2024. Those conflicts resulted in the death of thousands of fighters and many leaders, while destroying much of the militia's arsenal.
Beyond hardware, the group is working to repair its command and control structures. One source and three other security officials familiar with operations said these systems broke down during key battles. However, Hezbollah's media office rejected the idea that its command networks had collapsed. The group is specifically restocking explosives for its drones, a claim supported by a Hezbollah official and a Lebanese security source who identified seized explosives as intended for that purpose.
The rebuild follows a period of reduced fighting that began in June. Hostilities abated in the summer after an interim deal between the United States and Iran included a ceasefire in Lebanon and Washington-mediated talks. Although the US-Iran deal has since collapsed, full-scale war has not resumed in the north, even as Israel continues to strike Hezbollah targets in the south. The militia is on alert for a potential escalation between Washington and Tehran that could reignite the front.
Sources indicate the group is not yet fully prepared. Stockpiles and fighting forces are still being assembled. The need to repair command capabilities is acute in areas like the town of Bint Jbeil and the Ali al-Taher ridge. On those fronts, small units operating with rationed anti-tank rockets found themselves isolated. They struggled to confront Israeli remotely operated systems, including weaponized drones and armed remote-controlled vehicles.
The US State Department said it would continue to squeeze Hezbollah's finances through sanctions. A Treasury spokesperson added that Iran is running out of money and ways to move it. Israel's military declined to comment on the rebuild, while Iran's mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to inquiries. Hezbollah's media office stated the group is wary of giving Israeli leaders a reason to escalate, without explicitly confirming whether it would join any new fighting.
