Wall Street Journal: Hezbollah Rebuilding Its Arsenal Amid Rising Tensions with Israel

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources, that Lebanese Hezbollah has begun rebuilding its military arsenal and reorganizing its ranks, a move that could challenge the terms of the ceasefire agreement and increase the likelihood of renewed tensions with Israel.

The newspaper stated that intelligence reports indicate the group is restocking rockets, anti-tank weapons, and artillery, with some of these weapons smuggled through maritime ports and overland routes via Syria, while others are manufactured domestically.

In this context, Israeli sources indicated that Tel Aviv is running out of patience with Hezbollah’s movements, with the possibility of escalating military operations in Lebanon in response to what it described as “the group’s efforts to enhance its offensive and defensive capabilities.”

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted a senior official as saying that Hezbollah has “partially succeeded in rebuilding its military infrastructure,” describing this as a “direct violation of the existing security agreement with Lebanon.” The official added that the group smuggled hundreds of short-range rockets from Syria in recent months and is working to rebuild its leadership structure.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reaffirmed that the state will not relent in restricting weapons to official institutions, emphasizing the implementation of “serious measures” in this regard and working through the international monitoring committee to ensure an end to Israeli violations.

The Lebanese-Israeli border has witnessed rising tensions in recent weeks, with the Israeli army intensifying airstrikes on southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire declared at the end of 2024.

The U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire agreement requires Hezbollah to withdraw from the area south of the Litani River and dismantle its military infrastructure there, confining weapon possession in Lebanon to official institutions, while Israel maintains forces on five strategic hills in the south. In August, the Lebanese government decided to gradually remove Hezbollah’s weapons, a move the group immediately rejected.