Report: Zamir Warned of Rapid Rebuilding of Hezbollah’s Power.. and the Government Rejected His Military Plan

SadaNews: The Chief of Staff of the Israeli Occupation Army, Eyal Zamir, warned months ago about the pace of Hezbollah's rebuilding of its power following the recent war on Lebanon, indicating that the party is rehabilitating its military capabilities at a level exceeding estimates in Tel Aviv, while the political level did not respond to these warnings.

According to what the "Haaretz" newspaper reported today, Thursday, Zamir stated during sensitive security discussions that the pace of the party's rebuilding capabilities, especially regarding the production of combat means and command and control structures, shows that "the direction is not towards disarming Hezbollah, but rather rehabilitating it."

Zamir's statements came despite the intensive Israeli violations in Lebanon and the ongoing operations under the pretext of enforcing the ceasefire agreement, which came into effect in November 2024.

The report noted that these estimates were presented in full to the political level, and even a plan was proposed for a limited military operation in Lebanon aimed at "curbing the party’s growth and reducing the threat, and preparing conditions for a future confrontation with Iran without engaging it," but the political leadership rejected the plan, preferring to handle the file within the ongoing war against Iran.

It mentioned that the military establishment was surprised by the speed of Hezbollah's rehabilitation of its capabilities, contrary to previous estimates that followed operations like the bombing of the Bigerat and numerous assassinations of party leaders, along with the ground incursion in southern Lebanon during the recent war.

Meanwhile, political officials said last week, according to the report, that they were "surprised" by the party's capabilities, after more than 200 rockets and shells were fired towards Israel in conjunction with Iranian attacks, and with an intense launch wave that started on the second of March this month.

The newspaper added that the ongoing Israeli operations since the ceasefire agreement, known within the army as the "mowing the grass" policy, have contributed to slowing the pace of rebuilding capabilities, but they have not led to their dismantling, as the party continues to strengthen its military structure.