Israel intensifies strikes on Hezbollah: what weapons are in play?
The Israeli military (IDF) conducted a massive shelling aimed at Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut. Al Jazeera reports that dozens of people likely died as a result of the attack. Additionally, many buildings were leveled. What could Israel have used to strike? Let's take a look at the country's arsenal.
7:03 PM EDT, September 27, 2024
In recent days, tensions have risen in the Middle East. More missiles are regularly striking Beirut, causing civilian deaths. In one of the latest strikes, a high-ranking Hezbollah commander, Ibrahim Kubaisi, was also killed. The Israeli army is intensifying attacks, and in the one carried out on Friday, September 27, even 15 missiles were used. Let’s recall what arsenal Israel possesses and, therefore, what the army could have used to level part of Beirut.
Israel's arsenal
Israel, surrounded by countries whose policies are often hostile toward it, has been investing in the development of advanced weaponry for years. Particular attention is paid to technological innovations to ensure its battlefield advantage.
One of the key branches of the Israeli army is modern aviation. The IDF’s list of top machines includes F-35 and F-16 fighters, both of which are highly sought after worldwide. The F-35 is a multirole stealth fighter jet that travels at 1.8 Ma (1,367 mph) and ranges from 1,056 to 1,430 miles. The F-16, on the other hand, is a fighter that travels at speeds of up to 2 Ma and can carry multiple missiles and various bombs.
Not just aviation
The Israeli army also relies on modern Merkava family tanks, which are considered among the most modern and best in the world. The Mk IV version features exceptionally developed defensive capabilities. The hull of the Merkava is equipped with a massive shield capable of repelling attacks from anti-tank grenade launchers.
Israel also has a significant arsenal of air-to-ground and ground-to-ground weapons. The first category includes the AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-84 Harpoon, and the modern Wind Demon, primarily revealed in 2024. These weapons are characterized by high precision, with their CEP accuracy measured at 1 ft, while the total range exceeds 124 miles.
Israeli army’s ground-to-ground missiles
Regarding land-based weapons designed to attack land targets, the most notable in Israel’s arsenal is the Jericho missile family (Jericho-2, Jericho-3, Jericho-4). Jericho-2 has a range exceeding 932 miles, Jericho-3 reaches up to 7,152 miles, and Jericho-4 is still in development with an unknown range. Each of them is intended to carry nuclear warheads.
Other ground-to-ground missiles in Israeli service include Delilah missiles, weighing nearly 440 lbs and with a range of 149 miles. The warhead weight of this missile reaches 66 lbs, while its CEP accuracy is only 3 ft. The range of this missile is 155 miles. Alongside Delilah is the LORA (Long Range Artillery) missile, a quasi-ballistic rocket weighing 3,527 lbs and stretching over 16 ft long. The warhead of this missile weighs nearly 1,323 lbs and can be launched from a distance of 267 miles from the launch site.
The media have yet to specify what exact weaponry was used during the attack on Hezbollah’s headquarters. However, it is possible that one of the missiles mentioned above was part of the strike.
