Since the Second Lebanon War in 2006, and in parallel to the relative quiet along the border, Hezbollah, with Iranian assistance, has promoted vigorous and quick military force buildup, becoming the main conventional threat to Israel in recent years.
Hezbollah’s arsenal is estimated to be over150,000 missiles and rockets, almost 10 times more than Hamas and Palestinian Jihad had before October 7, 2023. Beyond that, it includes cruise missiles and ballistic missiles as well as missiles with impressive precision capabilities, not only short-range (as we have learned in recent months) but also long-range. Hezbollah also worked to improve its airspace capability given its inferiority vis-à-vis the Israeli Air Force, which operated freely in Lebanese airspace. For this purpose, Hezbollah equipped itself with improved collection and attack UAVs as well as defense systems—means unknown to us in the Palestinian arena. Hezbollah’s vast arsenal of weapons, which it maintains in full coordination with Iran for the possibility of a large-scale war, has not yet been reflected in the “war of attrition” that Hezbollah has chosen to wage against Israel since October 8.
Israel is on high alert due to the growing threat on its northern border. Israel’s defense layers include the Iron Dome or Magic Wand system against medium-range missiles, or the Arrow 2 and 3 systems against long-range ballistic missiles. The UAVs and drones, which were fired at Israel in May at a record rate, can be intercepted with anti-aircraft missiles, the Iron Dome system, or high-rate artillery, and in the future with powerful lasers.
Since the Second Lebanon War in 2006, and in parallel to the relative quiet along the border, Hezbollah, with Iranian assistance, has promoted vigorous and quick military force buildup, becoming the main conventional threat to Israel in recent years.
Hezbollah’s arsenal is estimated to be over150,000 missiles and rockets, almost 10 times more than Hamas and Palestinian Jihad had before October 7, 2023. Beyond that, it includes cruise missiles and ballistic missiles as well as missiles with impressive precision capabilities, not only short-range (as we have learned in recent months) but also long-range. Hezbollah also worked to improve its airspace capability given its inferiority vis-à-vis the Israeli Air Force, which operated freely in Lebanese airspace. For this purpose, Hezbollah equipped itself with improved collection and attack UAVs as well as defense systems—means unknown to us in the Palestinian arena. Hezbollah’s vast arsenal of weapons, which it maintains in full coordination with Iran for the possibility of a large-scale war, has not yet been reflected in the “war of attrition” that Hezbollah has chosen to wage against Israel since October 8.
Israel is on high alert due to the growing threat on its northern border. Israel’s defense layers include the Iron Dome or Magic Wand system against medium-range missiles, or the Arrow 2 and 3 systems against long-range ballistic missiles. The UAVs and drones, which were fired at Israel in May at a record rate, can be intercepted with anti-aircraft missiles, the Iron Dome system, or high-rate artillery, and in the future with powerful lasers.