The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have displayed a vast arsenal of weapons seized from Hamas and Hezbollah, groups designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. and linked to Iran's "axis of resistance." The collection, housed at the IDF Tzrifin Base in Central Israel, includes rockets, drones, sniper rifles, anti-tank launchers, mortars, and even Nazi-era firearms.
These weapons were reportedly used by Hamas and Hezbollah against Israeli civilians and the IDF since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. According to IDF reports, Hezbollah also used some of these weapons against Lebanese civilians. The terror groups have been linked to the deaths of over 300 American citizens.
The seized arsenal features a range of origins, from Iranian-made arms to weaponry from Russia, China, and homegrown producers in Lebanon and Gaza. Notably, a German World War 2-era MG-34 machine gun with Nazi markings was found among weapons confiscated from a Hezbollah compound in Lebanon. An Israeli military commander stated the Nazi machine gun may have been used for propaganda or morale purposes by the terrorists. A second Nazi-era assault rifle, the MP 44, was also confiscated from Hezbollah.
Hamas and Hezbollah have employed sophisticated methods, including the use of dual-use technology—equipment that can serve both civilian and military purposes. Motorcycles, like the Egyptian Halawa Motors models captured in Israel on Oct. 7, were used by Hamas terrorists to take hostages. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) designed to carry rockets and launchers were found among Hezbollah's seized equipment, offering tactical advantages in rugged terrain.
Iranian-produced mortars and cannons were also recovered, with hundreds found in Lebanon. Hezbollah's base exists in southern Lebanese villages, where IDF forces discovered cannons pointing out of residential windows. Some captured cannons were of Russian origin. Drones, including those used to create diversions and exhaust IDF resources, were also part of the confiscated material.
Russian-produced AK-47 automatic rifles and their variants, such as the AK-103 and AK-104, were seized from Hezbollah. Light sniper rifles, some manufactured in Iran and others in Russia, were common among both Hezbollah and Hamas fighters. Highly sophisticated Austrian Steyr sniper rifles, including the Steyr HS .50 caliber model, were found in Hezbollah's possession, alongside Iranian replicas of the Steyr rifle. Submachine guns manufactured in China and Russia, as well as anti-tank launchers from Russia and Iran, were also collected.
The IDF also recovered uniforms manufactured in Syria, China, and Lebanon, alongside helmets, anti-shrapnel vests, and medical kits, indicating the organized nature of these forces. The IDF commander emphasized that the ongoing effort to clear Lebanon of military entities targeting civilians is crucial, especially after a November ceasefire agreement with the Lebanese army and government.
A U.S. State Department official indicated that U.S.-led efforts to disarm Hezbollah and facilitate a staged withdrawal of IDF troops from southern Lebanon will continue. Talks are scheduled for early September in Rome, with the official expressing cautious optimism about the trajectory of negotiations, acknowledging the difficulties posed by Hezbollah's attempts to disrupt the process and the domestic political pressures on both Israel and Lebanon.