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Hezbollah's Growing Arsenal: From Drones to Missiles:
Hezbollah, the mighty-armed group based in Lebanon, made headlines on Thursday by revealing its use of drones to attack Israeli military installations. This move has sparked global discussions about Hezbollah's considerable military capabilities and its willingness to confront Israel. The ongoing competition between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7, has seen Hezbollah actively engaging with Israel, intensifying the conflict on a daily basis. Let's delve into Hezbollah's recent activities and its arsenal.
Drone Strike on Israel
In a significant escalation, Hezbollah targeted a military post on Israel's northern border for the first time. The attack resulted in injuries to three soldiers, one of whom is in critical condition. Hezbollah's military unit along the northern border of Lebanon has been relentlessly launching missiles and rockets. However, none of these attacks has successfully hit their intended targets, as Israeli defence systems have consistently intercepted them. Nevertheless, on Thursday, Hezbollah achieved a breakthrough with its first successful drone attack.
Hezbollah's Drone Attack Confirmed
Hezbollah confirmed on Thursday that it employed two S-5 rocket-equipped "armed drones" to strike a military post in northern Israel's Metula region. Footage released by the Iran-backed group depicted the drone advancing towards the target area, where tanks were deployed. The video captured the moment when two rockets were launched before the drone exploded. This marks the first instance of Hezbollah using drones in its ongoing conflict since October.
Israel's Concerns: The Threat of Drone Attacks
Reports associated with Hezbollah reveal that the drone carried a warhead containing 25 to 30 kilograms (55 to 66 pounds) of high explosives. Military analyst Khalil Helo highlighted that Hezbollah's utilization of drones enables them to easily target locations within Israeli territory, as drones evade radar detection and can operate at low altitudes.
Hezbollah's Missile Arsenal
Hezbollah employs a range of modern weapons and missiles in its attacks on Israel. These include various lethal missiles like Iran's Burkan and Almas missiles, which have inflicted significant damage on Israeli targets.
The 'Jihad Mughniyah' Missile
One of Hezbollah's missiles, named 'Jihad Mughniyah,' pays tribute to a Hezbollah leader killed in an Israeli airstrike in Syria in 2015. Mughniyah, the son of senior Hezbollah figure Imad Mughniyah, was assassinated in Damascus in 2008. Hezbollah's use of this missile on Israel serves as a commemoration of its fallen leader.
Piercing the Iron Dome
Despite possessing advanced weaponry, Hezbollah still relies heavily on cornet anti-tank missiles, with a range of only five to eight kilometres. They also employ Konkur anti-tank missiles, capable of penetrating Israel's Iron Dome defence system.
Hezbollah's Military BuildupBuildup
Hezbollah boasts a significant arsenal of weapons, which it has expanded in recent years. This buildup buildup has bolstered Hezbollah's confidence in its ability to smash deeply into Israeli territory with state-of-the-art weaponry.