Strategic Assessment

During Operation Change of Direction in Lebanon, the Israel Air Force (IAF) recorded numerous achievements against Hizbollah’s medium range and long range surface-to-surface rocket launchers. In contrast, the results against short range rocket launchers were disappointing, particularly since the air force nearly maximized its ability to deal with targets of this type. In the absence of foreseeable significant improvements in this area, the future solution to the short range rocket threat lies on the ground, not in the air.