Iran War: US Arms to Israel, Iranian Missiles to Hezbollah Fuel Conflict
On March 19, 2026, Iran launched missiles toward northern Israel, while Hezbollah simultaneously fired rockets into the same area, prompting sirens across the region, according to the Israeli military.
The attacks represent a significant escalation in regional tensions, occurring amid a joint U.S.-Israeli offensive against Iran that began on February 28th. That offensive has reportedly resulted in approximately 1,300 fatalities, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The coordinated strikes by Iran and Hezbollah are occurring as Israel pursues a ground offensive targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.
According to sources familiar with the activities of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the IRGC undertook a substantial rebuilding of Hezbollah’s military command following significant damage inflicted by Israel in 2024. This included deploying Iranian officers to retrain fighters and oversee rearmament. The overhaul, described as the first of its kind for Hezbollah – founded by the IRGC in 1982 – involved restructuring command structures that had been compromised by Israeli intelligence, a factor that had previously enabled Israel to kill numerous Hezbollah leaders.
The IRGC’s investment appears to have been successful, enabling Hezbollah to re-engage in conflict in time to support Iran following the U.S.-Israeli offensive. Reuters reported earlier in March that Hezbollah anticipated further conflict and had spent months preparing.
Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) indicates that the Middle East has been a major destination for arms transfers in recent years. Over the past five years, 26% of all international transfers of heavy weaponry were directed to the region, with the majority going to Gulf Arab states like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
Israel, while not a top-tier importer, was the fourteenth largest global arms importer between 2021 and 2025. The United States accounted for 68% of Israel’s arms imports during that period, followed by Germany at 31% and Italy at 1.3%.
On March 12th, an Israeli military spokesperson stated that Hezbollah remains a “relevant and dangerous force” despite the damage Israel has inflicted over the past three years. Following Thursday’s attacks, the Israeli army announced that the immediate threat had passed and shelters could be vacated.