In lessons from last war, Hezbollah returns to guerrilla roots, avoids communication devices, awaits Israeli invasion

Lebanon’s Hezbollah is applying lessons from its last war with Israel as it braces for a possible full-scale Israeli invasion and protracted conflict, returning to its roots in guerrilla warfare in south Lebanon, four Lebanese sources say.

Operating in small units, fighters from the Iran-backed terror group are avoiding the use of communication devices that could be at risk of Israeli tapping, and are rationing the use of key anti-tank rockets as they engage Israeli troops, say the sources, who are familiar with Hezbollah military activities.

While Israel plans for the likely continuation of its Lebanon offensive after the Iran war, the four sources say Hezbollah’s calculations are based on Iran’s clerical leadership surviving the war, leading to a regional ceasefire of which it would be part.

In 2024, not only did Israel booby-trap hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah, but it also penetrated the group’s private phone network, according to Lebanese officials familiar with Hezbollah’s post-war investigation into breaches.

The sources say Hezbollah is avoiding any devices that could be susceptible to eavesdropping.

Two of the Lebanese sources say four deputies have been appointed for every Hezbollah commander, to ensure continued operations.

The sources say much of Hezbollah’s fighting on the ground had been focused so far near the town of Khiyam, near the intersection of Lebanon’s border with Israel and Syria.

This is one area where Hezbollah believes any Israeli land invasion could begin.

Reuters reported last week that Hezbollah’s elite Radwan fighters, who withdrew from the south following the 2024 ceasefire, had returned to the area.

The sources decline to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Hezbollah’s media office doesn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

An Israeli security source says there is no sign that Hezbollah is looking to de-escalate — quite the opposite. While Israel has eliminated a few of Hezbollah’s very senior commanders, it seems that the group is managing to stabilize its ranks and make and execute decisions.