Israel uncovers massive cache of Iranian-linked weapons seized from Hezbollah and Hamas
The Israel Defense Forces displayed a huge assortment of rockets, drones, firearms and other armaments captured from Hezbollah and Hamas, many of which originated in Iran, Russia, China and even Nazi-era Germany.
Journalists were granted rare access to the Israel Defense Forces’ Tzrifin base in central Israel, where a sprawling inventory of seized weaponry from Hezbollah and Hamas was on display. The cache, amassed after the Oct. 7 assault, includes rockets, grenades, drones, sniper and assault rifles, anti-tank launchers, mortars and improvised vehicle-borne launch platforms, sourced from Iran, Russia, China, Lebanon, Gaza and even a World War II-era German MG-34 and MP 44.
IDF officer Lt. Col. (res.) Idan Sharon-Kettler said the Nazi-marked guns were likely used as propaganda by Iran-aligned militants. He also highlighted the prevalence of Russian AK-47, AK-103 and AK-104 rifles, Iranian-made mortars, Chinese sub-machine guns and a Turkish hunting rifle among the seized items.
The weapons were often mounted on all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles that had been used to transport rockets and take hostages. Sharon-Kettler stressed that the diversity of the arsenal underscores the groups’ dependence on foreign-supplied, dual-use equipment and the ongoing need for Israel to clear such armaments from Lebanese territory.
Why it matters
The haul reveals the extensive foreign supply network fueling Hezbollah and Hamas, highlighting regional security risks and Israel’s effort to dismantle it.
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