Hezbollah’s adaptable leadership structure, along with its sophisticated tunnel systems and stockpile of missiles, is providing significant defense against Israeli strikes, according to a Reuters report that cites three sources familiar with the militant group’s activities.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports that over 560 people, including 50 children, have lost their lives in Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) attacks targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon. The strikes have prompted thousands of people to flee their homes, as Israel continues to issue warnings in an effort to minimize civilian casualties.
Two of the sources mentioned that new recruits had already stepped in to replace Hezbollah militants who were killed during an Israeli airstrike on Beirut last Friday.
In contrast, a fourth source, identified as a Hezbollah official, told Reuters that last week’s explosions involving pagers and radios incapacitated about 1,500 fighters due to injuries. He added that many suffered severe injuries, including blindness and loss of hands.
A separate report submitted to the US Congress on Friday estimated Hezbollah’s force size to be between 40,000 and 50,000 fighters, although Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah claims the group has a strength of 100,000 members.
Reuters also highlighted Hezbollah’s redeployment of fighters, including some from Syria, to southern Lebanon’s frontline areas. The group is reportedly accelerating the transport of rockets into Lebanon in anticipation of a prolonged conflict.
Hezbollah’s arsenal includes weapons sourced from Iran, Russia, and China, though the exact details of these arms and their origins remain unclear, according to the sources.
Dr. Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer in the School of Security Studies at King’s College London, told Reuters that despite the disruptions caused by last week’s blasts, Hezbollah’s organizational design renders it “extremely durable” and “Israel’s toughest adversary to date.”
Krieg also explained that Hezbollah’s tunnel network in Lebanon, unlike Hamas’ tunnels in Gaza, is built deep into mountain rock, making them “much harder to reach or destroy” compared to Gaza’s tunnels. He added that Hezbollah’s most powerful long-range ballistic missiles are also stored underground.
The US Congress report further noted that Hezbollah’s cache includes approximately 150,000 rockets.
A senior security official informed Reuters that Hezbollah’s ongoing missile assaults are a result of its command structure remaining functional despite Israeli strikes. In addition, the group’s fixed-line telephone network has remained operational, confirmed by the three sources.
Should Hezbollah’s leadership chain be compromised, its frontline fighters are trained to operate in smaller, autonomous units, according to a senior source. These groups are equipped to engage Israeli forces for prolonged durations.
Furthermore, many Hezbollah members still use older pager models, which were unaffected by the recent blasts.
Boaz Shapira, a researcher with the Israeli think tank “Alma,” remarked that Israel has yet to target Hezbollah’s most critical strategic assets, such as drone facilities or long-range missile sites. He told Reuters, “I don’t believe we are close to the end of this.”
Both the IDF and Hezbollah’s media wing declined to comment on Reuters’ inquiries. The information provided could not be independently verified by Reuters.
{Matzav.com Israel}