BEIRUT: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) rebuilt Hezbollah’s military command after it was mauled by Israel in 2024, plugging gaps with Iranian officers before restructuring the Lebanese group and laying plans for the war it is now waging in support of Tehran, two people familiar with these IRGC activities said.
The overhaul was the first of its kind for Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim group founded by the IRGC in 1982, pointing to a hands-on approach after the blows of the 2024 war, including the killing of its leader Hassan Nasrallah and other top commanders.
Iran’s investment paid off, getting Hezbollah back on its feet in time to enter the war in the Middle East on Tehran’s side after it was attacked by the United States and Israel.
Reuters reported earlier in March that Hezbollah had seen another war as inevitable and spent months readying itself. This article sheds light on the IRGC’s role in these preparations, based on accounts from six sources who spoke on condition of anonymity as well as an expert on Hezbollah.
The IRGC, deeply involved in Hezbollah since it was established, sent officers to retrain its fighters and oversee rearmament, the two sources familiar with IRGC activities said.
