Nazi-era guns and Iranian weapons: captured Hezbollah arsenal exposes rearmament push

Key Points:

• Lt. Col. (res.) Idan Sharon-Kettler oversees the collection and clearance of over 7,500 seized Hezbollah weapons and military equipment from southern Lebanon since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, revealing ongoing arms buildup despite ceasefire agreements.
• The weapons cache includes a wide array of arms such as small arms, mortar shells, explosive belts, advanced anti-tank missiles, explosive drones, and Iranian, Chinese, and Russian-origin technology, some hidden within civilian structures like hospitals.
• The presence of old and diverse weaponry, including a Nazi-era MG 34 machine gun, highlights Hezbollah's long-term accumulation and the complexity of their arsenal, which contradicts Lebanese government claims of disarmament in the south.
• IDF technical teams rigorously inspect and clear the seized equipment for booby traps and functionality, using many items for intelligence and operational purposes, though the ongoing influx of new weapons, especially drones, poses persistent security challenges.
• Reserve soldiers involved in the operation express frustration over the Lebanese government's failure to enforce disarmament and the unsustainable demands placed on Israeli reservists, who face repeated deployments without achieving lasting border security.