Iran tells Hezbollah to increase readiness, prepare for potential conflict - report

Iran has instructed Hezbollah forces to raise their level of military readiness in preparation for a possible upcoming confrontation, Lebanese security and military sources told the Emirati site Erem News on Thursday.According to the sources, all full-time Hezbollah members who receive monthly salaries were summoned, although it was emphasized that these directions were only preparations for a near-term scenario and not a final decision to go to war.One prominent change in Hezbollah's strategy, according to the sources, was adopting elements of Iran's "mosaic defense" doctrine, which decentralizes military responsibilities and reduces reliance on a central command hierarchy.A source told Beirut-based independent news outlet Al-Modon earlier this week that Hezbollah is preparing to rearm and rebuild its terror capabilities in the event of an escalation with the IDF amid rising regional tensions."If a large-scale war breaks out, it will reach Lebanon. Israeli is waiting for any opportunity for military escalation against Hezbollah, as it is working to convince Washington of the need to renew the war against Iran. Just as Tehran is anticipating the possibility of war against it, Hezbollah is preparing and equipping itself," the report said.Hezbollah anticipating, preparing for warSources told the outlet that Hezbollah is "anticipating" war and "has succeeded in taking advantage of the extended ceasefire period to rebuild its military capabilities in southern Lebanon, both south and north of the Litani River."Sources also linked Hezbollah's rebuilding of militarist terror capabilities to the interception of a truck that was transporting explosive materials from the Bekaa Valley to Beirut.The Jerusalem Post reported on Sunday that the Lebanese Armed Forces seized a truck at a checkpoint in the Bekaa Valley, which was carrying hundreds of kilograms of explosives belonging to the terror group, including TNT and C4.Ziad Hawat, a member of the Lebanese Forces party and the former mayor of Byblos, insisted the state investigate the origins, destination and purpose of the explosives and “if Hezbollah's involvement with the state is proven, the judiciary must expedite the adoption of deterrent legal measures against the party, the arrest of the involved leadership and members, and the banning of all its activities, including political activity.”Defense Minister Katz threatens to seize Lebanese territory in retaliation to aggressionDefense Minister Israel Katz threatened on Wednesday that Israel would seize additional territory in southern Lebanon should Hezbollah launch attacks in coordination with Iran.“If Hezbollah joins Iran in an attack on Israel, it will be dealt a heavy blow and lose additional territory in southern Lebanon, in the areas of Nabatieh and the Litani [River], which will become part of a permanent Israeli security zone – the IDF is prepared to launch a [new expanded] invasion,” Katz said during a visit to the IDF's buffer zone.Danielle Greyman-Kennard and Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.