Israeli official: Hezbollah gearing up for renewed fighting

Intelligence sources say Hezbollah learned key lessons about Israel’s vulnerabilities for a “future war.”

By World Israel News Staff

Israeli security officials are preparing for a renewal of conflict with Hezbollah, as the Lebanon-based terror group works to restore its infrastructure and regroup following a roughly yearlong conflict with the Jewish state. That fighting began shortly after the October 7 Hamas-led massacres.

For about a year beginning in October 2023, Hezbollah launched near-daily explosive drone, rocket, and missile attacks on Israeli communities and military assets, the majority of which were located in northern Israel. The fighting forced tens of thousands of Israeli citizens to evacuate their homes, some of whom remained displaced for 18 months.

The war escalated dramatically in September 2024, when Israel intensified its efforts to end the ongoing aggression by Hezbollah.

Hezbollah suffered crippling losses during the previous round of conflict with Israel — most notably the assassination of its longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike. The organization was further weakened by a Mossad operation in which thousands of Hezbollah operatives were wounded and dozens killed after their communication beepers detonated simultaneously.

Despite these accomplishments, Israeli security officials warn that Hezbollah is regrouping and has learned from both its mistakes and achievements during the conflict. The war concluded with a Biden administration-brokered ceasefire in November 2024, but intelligence sources now fear Hezbollah is preparing for a “future war.”

In recent weeks, Israel has increased the number of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel is permitted to act against imminent threats.

“Hezbollah suffered heavy blows” from Israel, “but it also had successes” during the conflict, such as launching a drone that struck Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private home in Caesarea, a senior intelligence source told Hebrew-language outlet Walla. Hezbollah will attempt to incorporate what it learned about Israel’s weaknesses and “leverage” that knowledge, the source warned.

Adding to tensions is Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm, despite a resolution by the Lebanese government requiring it to do so.