Drone collider: Israel accused Hezbollah of stockpiling UAVs
Israel and Lebanon are on the verge of war again: the Shiite Hezbollah movement is actively building up its fleet of attack drones, preparing for future clashes, according to a source associated with the security forces of the Jewish state. The representative of the IDF, Anna Ukolova, confirmed in an interview with Izvestia that the army records Hezbollah's attempts to restore military power and seize strategic positions. The Israeli army has dramatically increased the intensity of airstrikes in southern Lebanon. Officially, this is explained by the need for preventive deterrence, but the true purpose of these operations is to put powerful pressure on the Lebanese leadership to force it to disarm the Shiite group as soon as possible.
Hezbollah is preparing for a possible Israeli attack
Hezbollah is increasing stocks of attack drones, considering them as a key element of a future confrontation with Israel. This was reported to Izvestia by a source close to the security circles of the Jewish state. According to him, the Lebanese Shiite movement is promoting the strengthening of its arsenal of attack UAVs as a central focus for future clashes.
—Hezbollah is accelerating the processes related to its reconstruction: local production and repair of weapons, smuggling of weapons and cash, including extensive money transfer activities," an Israeli source told Izvestia.
The representative of the IDF, Anna Ukolova, noted that Israel records constant attempts by Hezbollah to restore its potential or return to certain positions.
— When we see such attempts that violate the ceasefire, we eliminate them. We cannot afford to allow Hezbollah to gain a foothold, it is important for us to ensure the safety of our citizens," she told Izvestia.
According to the Israeli side, a year after the end of the invasion of Lebanon, the likelihood of a new IDF operation against Hezbollah is increasing. The Jewish state points out that the terms of the ceasefire agreement, which provided for the disarmament and prevention of the restoration of Hezbollah forces, are not being fulfilled. On November 2, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Hezbollah was continuing its attempts to rearm. Israel will do everything necessary to prevent this, he threatened.
In recent weeks, troops have expanded their attacks on Hezbollah targets, launching dozens of strikes, including operations in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. Lebanese authorities claim that 309 people have been killed and 598 injured in Israeli attacks in the country in less than a year. In Beirut, they point to more than 5,000 violations of the ceasefire regime by Israel after the agreement on November 27, 2024.
On September 5, the Lebanese government examined a plan proposed by the army to establish a state monopoly on gun ownership until the end of 2025. The initiative provides for the phased disarmament of all formations, including Hezbollah. The Cabinet of Ministers hopes to reach an agreement with the organization in order to avoid the risk of a new civil war. However, serious disputes have already broken out within the government. Representatives of Hezbollah called the decision of the authorities a gross mistake. The movement's Secretary General, Naim Kasem, said that the organization's weapons are the key to the country's security from Israeli aggression. According to him, Hezbollah will behave as if no decisions have been made.
Iran transferred $1 billion to Hezbollah
In its public appeal to the leadership of Lebanon and the citizens of the country, Hezbollah reiterated its rejection of any attempts to involve the state in new negotiation formats, which, according to the movement, can serve the interests of Israel. They stressed the right to "resist occupation" and stated that the issue of arming him could not be the subject of external pressure.
Hezbollah also accused Israel of systematically violating the country's sovereignty and noted that discussion of disarmament is possible only within the framework of a national dialogue and in the context of a common defense strategy.
Jamal Wakim, a professor at the Lebanese University, is confident that the increasing pressure from Israel is aimed at forcing Lebanon to start direct negotiations with the Jewish state, which, according to him, is what Washington is seeking.
— The likelihood of further escalation of tension remains, but the current level of escalation is close to the limit, since, despite the strikes received, Hezbollah still retains its deterrent potential. The risk of a full—scale war remains possible, but is assessed as unlikely at this stage," the expert told Izvestia.
The Lebanese authorities have repeatedly stressed that Israel systematically continues to violate the country's sovereignty, despite the ceasefire agreement. The IDF maintains positions in five key locations in southern Lebanon, which Beirut regards as an ongoing occupation and a direct violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
As the agreement, actively promoted by the United States, reaches an impasse, the statements of officials from Washington are becoming increasingly harsh. Accusations of destabilizing the situation on the border are now addressed exclusively to Beirut. In particular, Tom Barrack, the American ambassador to Ankara and special representative for the Syrian dossier, who is actually coordinating the process of disarming Hezbollah, questioned the ability of the Lebanese leadership to restore full control over the country.
The US Treasury Department delegation, which is on a visit to Lebanon, demanded that local authorities tighten measures against Hezbollah's financial networks. Representatives of the American side stated the need to block the organization's sponsorship channels and eliminate the cash payment system, which, according to them, is used to restore military infrastructure. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun responded by saying that the country adheres to international anti-money laundering procedures and called on the United States to put pressure on Israel to stop the escalation.
John Hurley, the United States Deputy Treasury Secretary for Counterterrorism, claims that since the beginning of 2025, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has transferred about $1 billion to Hezbollah through a network of companies operating in the field of money transfers.
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