Israel announced that it had attacked around 30 Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon on Wednesday evening, a routine announcement as the two sides have been exchanging attacks for 11 months.
On October 8, Hezbollah began launching attacks against Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian people trapped in Gaza as Israel waged war on the enclave.
Israel has attacked Hezbollah nearly four times more than the Lebanese group, totaling more than 7,800 attacks along the 120km border.
Hezbollah, founded in 1982 to combat Israel’s invasion and occupation of southern Lebanon, has said it would stop attacking Israel if its assault on Gaza ceases. Its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has said the group is not seeking to expand the war but is prepared to respond to Israeli aggression.
Considered the most battle-hardened non-governmental fighting group in the region, Hezbollah waged a 34-day war against Israel in 2006 that was widely seen as a strategic and military failure for Israel.
Some Israeli leaders have pledged to drive Hezbollah out of southern Lebanon, even by force.
The attacks
According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), Israel exchanged at least 9,613 attacks with Hezbollah and other armed groups in Lebanon from October 7 to September 6.
About 82 percent of these attacks – 7,845 – were carried out by Israeli forces, which killed at least 646 people in Lebanon.
Hezbollah and other armed groups were responsible for 1,768 attacks that killed at least 32 Israelis.
Besides Hezbollah, which has borne the brunt of the hostilities, other parties involved in the attacks against Israel include the Lebanese al-Fajr Forces and the Amal movement as well as Hamas’ Qassam Brigades and Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s al-Quds Brigades, two armed wings of Palestinian groups present in Lebanon.
The following locations in southern Lebanon were most attacked by Israel:
- Aita al-Shaab – 391 attacks
- Naqoura – 303 attacks
- Kfar Kila – 294 attacks
- Hula – 291 attacks
- Tayr Harfa – 246
The groups from Lebanon have most attacked these locations in northern Israel:
- Kiryat Shmona – 154 attacks
- Metula – 103 attacks
- Margaliyot – 99 attacks
- Manara – 91 attacks
- Shtula – 83 attacks
August 25th Escalation
In the early hours of Sunday, Hezbollah and Israeli forces exchanged hundreds of attacks across the border in a marked escalation.
Israel called the attack a “preemptive” airstrike on southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah said it launched hundreds of rockets at Israeli targets.
Nasrallah said the group launched hundreds of drones and rockets into northern Israel in retaliation for the killing of commander Fuad Shukr in July.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared a nationwide “special situation” for 48 hours.
Israel’s arsenal
Israel has the most advanced missiles in the Middle East, many of which are made domestically, but most of its precision-guided missiles come from the United States.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), most of Israel’s capabilities consist of short-range tactical systems, including the Popeye, Extra and Gabriel missiles. Its long-range missiles include the Jericho 2 and Jericho 3 ballistic missiles, with ranges of 1,500 to 3,500 km and 4,800 to 6,500 km, respectively.
Furthermore, although it does not officially recognize it, Israel is believed to possess at least 90 nuclear weapons.
To counter rockets and missiles, Israel uses three integrated air defense systems: the Iron Dome (short range), David’s Sling (medium range) and Arrow (long range).
The Iron Dome was originally meant to provide city-sized cover against rockets with a range of 4 to 70 km (2.5 to 43 miles), but experts say it has been expanded.
The David’s Sling, produced by Israeli arms giant Rafael, can intercept rockets and missiles with a range of 40 to 300 km. The Arrow series, led by the Arrow 3 interceptor, has an estimated flight range of 2,400 km.
Hezbollah’s arsenal
Hezbollah is considered one of the most heavily armed non-state actors in the world, with an estimated 130,000 rocket arsenal, according to CSIS.
On October 19, Israel’s National Security Research Institute estimated that Hezbollah had 40,000 Grad-type missiles with a short range of 15 to 20 km (9 to 12 miles).
A further step was taken with 80,000 long-range missiles, including the Fajr 3 and Fajr 5 ballistic missiles, with a range of 100 km (62 miles).
Finally, there are about 30,000 Zelzal or Fateh-110 missiles with a range of 200 to 300 km (124 to 186 miles) – the longest-range weapons in Hezbollah’s inventory, capable of reaching southern Israel.
No Comment: Frenchman wins Wingsuit Championship