Hizbullah’s Weapons Frighten Not Just the Israelis but Also the Lebanese

Nida Al Watan, Lebanon, April 12

In a recent appearance on International Quds Day, Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of Hizbullah, declared, “We have not employed our main weapons yet, nor have we used our main forces.” Similarly, back in early March, MP Mohammad Raad, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, made a statement asserting, “We have not yet used all our weapons. The weapons reserves for open warfare have not yet been deployed, and the enemy knows it.” Hizbullah is known for its secretive approach regarding the weapons in its military arsenal. They keep the details hidden due to military secrets, causing unease among Israelis who constantly try to uncover the weapons stockpiled by the party. Nasrallah even claimed that Hizbullah’s budget, weapons, and missiles are supplied by the Islamic Republic of Iran. While it is no secret that Hizbullah’s weapons arsenal has Iranian origins, the organization has been expanding its sources of armament, acquiring new weapons in addition to the ones left by the Syrian Army when it withdrew from Lebanon in 2005. Not limited to Iranian supplies, Hizbullah also manufactures weapons in Lebanon and receives arms through various means from Iran, Syria, and the Bekaa region. Moreover, Hizbullah is said to acquire high-quality weapons from the black market, even ones manufactured in the West. There have been instances of Iranian weapons being used, including during the Iran-Iraq war when Iran illegally purchased American missiles through a covert deal orchestrated by American officials. The trend of pragmatism is visible not only in Hizbullah’s weapon procurement strategies but also in the diplomatic actions of the United States and Iran. The historical context of arms trading between Iran and the US demonstrates how pragmatism often trumps ideological differences. Hizbullah’s approach, based on pragmatism, aims to wield its weapons not only against Israel but also as a tool in Lebanese internal politics. This versatility and adaptability make Hizbullah’s arsenal a subject of concern not only for Israelis but also for the Lebanese people. —Jean Feghali (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)