Hezbollah has reinforced its fighters and moved additional weapons into southern Lebanon since the outbreak of war with Israel on March 2, according to the group’s media relations director. The announcement comes months after the Lebanese army said it had completed efforts to disarm the group near the Israeli border following a previous ceasefire.

The official said Hezbollah was able to introduce forces and arms during the fighting without using roads controlled by the Lebanese army, expressing confidence that the army would not confront the group. He argued that Israeli advances were possible because Hezbollah had previously been disarmed south of the Litani river and much of its infrastructure there destroyed, but insisted the group has since rebuilt and is prepared for a prolonged conflict.

Israel has established a 10 kilometer deep security zone in southern Lebanon after deploying ground forces. Hezbollah has also used one way attack drones guided by fiber optic cable, which it says are produced locally and are difficult to jam or track. Recent drone strikes have killed Israeli soldiers and a civilian contractor, according to Israeli authorities.

The latest escalation follows Hezbollah’s decision to launch rockets at Israel in response to United States and Israeli attacks on Iran, drawing Lebanon deeper into the regional conflict. Israeli strikes on Lebanon have continued despite a truce and have killed more than 2,600 people, according to reported figures.