IDF: Hezbollah Stores Weapons in Lebanese Civilian Areas

Latest Developments

Hezbollah is storing weapons, including explosives, in Lebanese civilian areas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on March 20. The Israeli military released footage of an explosion from an IDF strike in a Lebanese village. “As can be seen in the documentation, the size of the attacks, the number of secondary explosions and the duration of the fire at the property constitute further proof of Hezbollah’s method of operation in which it stores explosives and dangerous chemical substances in civilian villages,” the IDF stated.

Hezbollah has carried out thousands of attacks against Israel since it chose to support Hamas in the wake of the October 7 massacre. Hezbollah embeds itself throughout civilian areas of southern Lebanon, building tunnels and storing weapons in villages. Two Israeli soldiers were wounded on March 19 in a Hezbollah rocket attack on northern Israel. The IDF carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah operatives spotted near the border.

Expert Analysis

“Hezbollah continues to fire rockets at communities in northern Israel. The Iranian-backed terrorist group exploits civilian areas in southern Lebanon to fire its rockets and carry out its threats. The group is also destabilizing Lebanon and Syria by deploying its terrorists in Beirut and by infiltrating them into Syria. Hezbollah must be deterred from further threats to Israel and the region.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

“The IDF has been warning for years that Hezbollah is hiding rockets inside the homes of Lebanese citizens. Mirroring tactics employed by Gaza terrorist groups, Hezbollah is leveraging the civilian population of Lebanon as a shield to protect its military assets from Israeli attacks.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

Hezbollah Uses Ambulances to Move Terrorists

Hezbollah is using ambulances to move terrorists around southern Lebanon, IDF Arabic Spokesperson Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee said on March 19. Adraee further said: “Analysis of the ambulance’s activity pattern indicates abnormal behavior, operating between sites associated with Hezbollah even when they’re not under attack, with no apparent need for evacuating casualties and prolonged stays after attacks. It’s estimated that these ambulances are utilized by Hezbollah and Amal to shuttle terrorists between locations under IDF surveillance, as well as for transporting weaponry or equipment for terrorist activities.”

Hezbollah Deploys Armed Men in Beirut

Hezbollah deployed a “large and unprecedented” number of armed men in the southern Beirut neighborhood of Dahiya, Lebanon’s An-Nahar newspaper reported. The neighborhood is a major center of Hezbollah activity. The “terror group members are masked and are checking the identities of individuals walking on the streets,” The Times of Israel reported, citing An-Nahar. “In addition to being dominated by Hezbollah, the neighborhood was home to Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri, killed in a January strike widely attributed to Israel.”

Related Analysis

“IDF Strikes Hezbollah Terror Site in Syria,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hezbollah Attack on Northern Israel Kills One, Injures Nine,” FDD Flash Brief

“Prospects for War With Hezbollah Drawing ‘Closer,’ Israeli Defense Minister Says,” FDD Flash Brief