Fox News Digital accessed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Tzrifin Base, located in Central Israel, showcasing a variety of confiscated military equipment. These weapons, once used by Hezbollah and Hamas, include rockets, grenades, drones, sniper rifles, and anti-tank weapons. The arsenal originated from countries such as Iran, Russia, China, and local producers in Lebanon and Gaza, even featuring a Nazi-era gun.
The weapons were part of the machinery used by Hamas and Hezbollah against Israeli civilians and the IDF since an attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The IDF stated that Hezbollah also targeted Lebanese civilians. Both groups are part of Iran’s ‘axis of resistance.’ Reports indicate they have killed over 300 American citizens.
A new missile and decades of preparedness are boasted by an Iranian source seeking a land invasion.
During the conflict, Israel fought on multiple fronts against Iran and its proxies. Iranian rockets ended up scattered at the weapons storage facility in Tzrifin for journalists to examine. In early March, soon after a U.S.-Israeli joint attack on Iran, the Islamic Republic launched a ballistic missile into Beersheba, causing injuries to 19 people.
The Israeli military identified a Nazi swastika emblem on an MG-34 machine gun seized from Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to Lt. Col. (res.) Idan Sharon-Kettler. Sharon-Kettler described it as a routine exercise in weapon identification. He explained that such guns serve as ‘propaganda or for morale’ for the Iranian-backed terrorists. Another weapon confiscated was the Nazi-era MP 44, also known as StG 44.
These U.S.-designated terrorist organizations, Hamas and Hezbollah, utilize sophisticated methods to convert vehicles into offensive tools. Dual-use technology is a central component for them. Sharon-Kettler highlighted Egyptian Halawa Motors motorcycles captured in Israel on 10/7, used by Hamas to take hostages. On that day, Iranian-backed Hamas killed over 1,200 individuals, including more than 40 Americans, and took over 250 hostages.
Additionally, the IDF captured rockets from Palestinian Islamic Jihad, reportedly used as ‘propaganda dummies’ during demonstrations in Gaza. Hezbollah employed all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in Lebanon to carry rockets and militants. One such ATV was designed to hold six rockets with launchers, offering tactical advantages in Southern Lebanon’s landscape. Sharon-Kettler expressed the effectiveness of these vehicles for ambushing in the region’s hilly terrain.
IDF also showcased Iranian-produced mortars found in Lebanon. According to Sharon-Kettler, ‘hundreds’ were discovered. Hezbollah drones, some serving as distractions for IDF resources, were among the seized items. Sharon-Kettler reported capturing dozens of Iranian-produced cannons in Southern Lebanon villages, often positioned out of windows, originating in Russia or replicated by Iran.
The IDF’s efforts revealed Hezbollah’s use of residential and civilian structures, including uniforms and medical kits from Syria, China, and Lebanon. Sharon-Kettler explained Israel’s actions in Lebanon, stating that if the IDF does not intervene against military entities, no one else will address such threats.
Sharon-Kettler referred to the November 2024 ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel to cease hostilities between Jerusalem and Hezbollah, which joined Hamas against Israel on October 8, 2023.
A State Department official acknowledged ongoing U.S.-led efforts for Lebanon’s government to disarm Hezbollah and facilitate a staged IDF withdrawal from Southern Lebanon. Talks in Rome were noted for early September, with cautious optimism for progress despite Hezbollah’s attempts to sabotage the process.
You can follow Benjamin Weinthal, who reports on the region, on Twitter @BenWeinthal or email at [email protected].