Inside the Arsenal: Israel Shows Off Iranian, Russian, Chinese and Nazi-Era Weapons Seized From Hamas and Hezbollah

Israel has opened the doors of a military storage facility packed with weapons captured from Hamas and Hezbollah, offering journalists a rare look at the scale and geographic spread of the arsenal fuelling the "axis of resistance" from Iranian-manufactured rockets to a World War II-era German machine gun bearing a Nazi eagle-and-swastika stamp.

A Rare Look Inside Tzrifin Base
Fox News Digital was granted access to the Israel Defense Forces' Tzrifin Base in central Israel, where rockets, grenades, drones, sniper rifles, automatic weapons, anti-tank rocket launchers and mortars seized from Hamas and Hezbollah are stored. According to the outlet, the weapons trace to manufacturers spanning Iran, Russia and China, alongside homegrown production in Lebanon and Gaza and, notably, at least two firearms manufactured in Nazi Germany.

Nazi-Era Guns Used for "Propaganda"
Lt. Col. (res.) Idan Sharon-Kettler, commander of the IDF's Captured Equipment Evacuation Unit, identified a German MG-34 machine gun seized from a Hezbollah compound in Lebanon, describing the markings as an eagle carrying a swastika stamp. A second Nazi-era weapon, the MP 44 assault rifle (also known as the StG 44), was also recovered from Hezbollah. Sharon-Kettler said the weapons were likely retained for propaganda purposes or to boost morale among Iran-backed fighters in Lebanon, rather than for front-line use.

Iranian Cannons Pointed From Windows
The IDF said it captured dozens of Iranian-manufactured cannons in villages across southern Lebanon, describing Hezbollah's core operational base in the area. Sharon-Kettler said the weapons were frequently positioned inside civilian homes, pointing out through windows a placement consistent with what Israel and Western governments have long alleged is a pattern of embedding fighters and weaponry among civilian populations, including near hospitals, schools and mosques. At least one seized cannon in Lebanon was of Russian origin.

Uniforms and Dual-Use Technology
Alongside the weaponry, the IDF displayed Hezbollah uniforms manufactured in Syria, China and Lebanon. Investigators also highlighted how both groups converted ordinary vehicles into offensive tools including an Egyptian-made Halawa Motors motorcycle that Israeli officials say was used to seize hostages during the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, in which Hamas killed roughly 1,200 people, including more than 40 American citizens, and abducted about 250 others.

Framed as Evidence of Iran's "Axis of Resistance"

Israeli officials frame the arsenal as physical proof of what they describe as sustained material backing for Hamas and Hezbollah from Iran, with additional weapons and components tracing to Russia and China. The IDF said the death toll from Hamas and Hezbollah operations against American citizens now exceeds 300, according to reports cited by Fox News. The display comes as Israel continues operations against Iran-aligned groups across multiple fronts in the aftermath of the wider regional escalation involving Iran in 2026, and as ceasefire diplomacy over Gaza's next phase continues in parallel through Cairo and Washington-brokered channels.

Mustapha Bature Sallama.
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal investigation and Intelligence Analysis.

International Conflict Management and Peace Building.USIP

mustysallama@gmail.com
+233-555-275-880
References
Fox News Digital, "Nazi-era machine gun found among Hezbollah weapons seized by the IDF," Fox News, August 16, 2026. https://www.foxnews.com/world/exclusive-israel-seizes-vast-iran-terror-axis-arsenal-surprising-foreign-origins

Fox News, "Inside IDF base housing vast arsenal seized from Hamas, Hezbollah," Fox News Video, August 16, 2026. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403407451112

PJ Media, "Israel Finds Hamas Weapons From Iran, China, Russia And Nazi Germany," August 15, 2026. https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/08/15/israel-finds-hamas-weapons-from-iran-china-russia-and-nazi-germany-n4956183

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