IDF reveals weapons seized from Hezbollah intended to be used in Oct 7-style attack in Galilee region

Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday displayed some of the weapons seized during operations last week in villages and bunkers in southern Lebanon. The weapons belonged to Hezbollah terrorists who planned to use them to invade northern Israeli communities along the border.

Aside from weapons, the IDF also discovered breaching tools and tools designed to overcome minefields to reach towns in the northern Galilee. 

The terror group Hezbollah has built up its strategic capabilities over the years with the support of the Iranian regime, which has helped arm the Lebanese proxy with various weapons used in mixed combat, including those it deemed necessary for an invasion. Many of the weapons were hidden inside civilian buildings in villages near the border. These are the same villages from which Hezbollah fired rockets and mortars at Israel since last October.

Why we are operating in southern Lebanon: pic.twitter.com/kGsqytshV6

— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) October 9, 2024

Following the entry of IDF units into southern Lebanon, Israeli troops discovered significant amounts of ammunition and weapons prepared for extensive conflict. According to Major G., commander of the Ammunition Dismantling Institute of the Yahalom Combat Engineering Unit, this proves Hezbollah was planning an attack similar to the one carried out by Hamas on Oct. 7. 

However, it is not only the massive amounts of ammunition that convinced IDF officers that Hezbollah was planning an invasion. 

Israeli forces revealed hundreds of explosives of various types, including anti-personnel explosive charges, anti-tank charges, pop-up mines, and explosives camouflaged to look like rocks. In addition, hundreds of RPG rockets, hundreds of grenades, dozens of anti-aircraft missiles, and hundreds of highly accurate anti-tank missiles were also discovered. Hezbollah terrorists have frequently used launchers like these to attack across the border, as the launchers have ranges of up to five and a half kilometers. 

Besides the weapons and ammunition, the troops also discovered various tools for breaching security barriers. These items also suggest that Hezbollah was planning to invade and attack northern Israeli communities. Ladders and breaching strips, as well as tools for crossing a minefield, were among the items recovered.

Major G. said that Hezbollah relies extensively on anti-tank missiles for many of its short-range attacks across the border fence. 

“Hezbollah is an anti-tank army,” he noted. “They use anti-tank missiles against houses and not only against tanks, so any tools we get our hands on is significant.” 

The IDF's 98th Division continues targeted operations in southern Lebanon, striking and destroying Hezbollah infrastructure used for launching attacks on Israeli territory. 

In recent days, forces from the Commando Brigade, including soldiers from the Egoz Unit, located and destroyed a rocket launcher, explosives and additional stockpiled military equipment belonging to the terror group. 

The IDF said that more than 150 installations have been destroyed in airstrikes so far, including Hezbollah headquarters, weapons storage facilities, and rocket launchers.