Hezbollah has reportedly used the ceasefire to rebuild its forces in s. Lebanon, upgrade explosive drones to carry heavier payloads, and prepare for a possible wider war involving Israel and Iran.
Hezbollah is preparing to rearm and rebuild its terror capabilities in the event of an escalation with the IDF amid rising regional tensions, sources told Beirut-based independent news outlet Al-Modon on Monday.
Al-Modon is managed by the Qatari-based Fadaat Media Group, and often takes a critical stance against the Iran-backed Shi'ite terror group, while calling for a pro-Arab consensus.
"If a large-scale war breaks out, it will reach Lebanon. Israeli is waiting for any opportunity for military escalation against Hezbollah, as it is working to convince Washington of the need to renew the war against Iran. Just as Tehran is anticipating the possibility of war against it, Hezbollah is preparing and equipping itself," the report said.
According to the outlet, the Iranian proxy terror group takes "Israeli threats seriously and is dealing with messages conveyed through diplomatic channels indicating that Israel will not abandon its military escalation and is waiting for the appropriate timing."
Sources told the outlet that Hezbollah is "anticipating" war and "has succeeded in taking advantage of the extended ceasefire period to rebuild its military capabilities in southern Lebanon, both south and north of the Litani River."
Lebanese Armed Forces seize truck transporting Hezbollah explosives planned for FPV drone improvements
The sources also linked Hezbollah's rebuilding of militarist terror capabilities to the interception of a truck that was transporting explosive materials from the Bekaa Valley to Beirut.
The Jerusalem Post reported on Sunday that the Lebanese Armed Forces seized a truck at a checkpoint in the Bekaa Valley, which was carrying hundreds of kilograms of explosives belonging to the terror group, including TNT and C4.
Two suspects admitted to receiving the explosives from a Hezbollah commander in Baalbek, with instructions to transport them to Beirut, the Post reported at the time.
Sources told the Lebanese outlet that the terror group uses the materials found in such trucks to develop first-person view (FPV) drones, which have been upgraded to carry between four and six kilograms of explosives, compared with the previous payload of 2.5 kg.
Hezbollah terrorists have also succeeded in extending the length of the FPV's cables from 20km. to over 30km., meaning that the terror group can attack targets from a further distance, the sources said.
The terror group has also continued to work towards reinforcing its capabilities by increasing military deployments in villages and towns adjacent to the Yellow Line, including in some areas south of the Litani River, particularly in the vicinity of Nabatiya, the report noted.
The terror group has also taken security precautions in anticipation of possible Israeli assassination attempts targeting terror leaders and officials, the report said. This included the evacuation of many apartments and offices in Beirut's southern suburbs, including the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahiyeh.
Beirut has not taken enough steps towards disarming Hezbollah terrorists, Israel believes - report
The outlet also highlighted that Israeli believes the Lebanese state has not fulfilled its duty towards the framework agreement surrounding Hezbollah disarmament. In this context, Israel has sent messages to Lebanon that it will launch a large-scale military operation against Hezbollah terrorists, including expanding military operations into new areas, the outlet reported.
Israel may also resort to imposing an air, land, and sea blockade on Lebanon as a ramification for Beirut's failure to disarm the terror group and prevent Hezbollah from joining an escalated conflict.
Negotiations reportedly include exploring the deployment of military forces from Italy, Switzerland, and Jordan to aid in removing Hezbollah's weaponry, according to Al-Modon.
However, conditions for reaching an agreement are not in place, as Hezbollah refuses to hand over weapons, and the LAF does not want to enter into a confrontation with the Iranian proxy, the report said.
The terror group is also betting on developments in the escalated conflict in Yemen between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition forces, the report stated.
Danielle Greyman-Kennard contributed to this report.