A formidable military force backed by Iran, Hezbollah has been engaging Israeli forces along the Lebanon-Israel border in the deadliest escalation since it fought a war with Israel in 2006.
Hezbollah has in recent years emerged as a potent force in the Middle EastIt is known as Israel's 'monster to the north' - a fearsome Iranian-backed military foe that claims to have 100,000 active fighters armed to the teeth with a terrifying array of weapons.
The IDF is conducting a non-stop bombardment of Hamas and has sent troops in to surround Gaza City, all while fending off rocket attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the north. Tehran, seeing the potential to turn the rebelling Shia group into a fearsome ally, instructed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to instruct, train and finance them.
The group has been exchanging fire with Israel across the border intermittently since Hamas' October 7 attacks - the latest escalation since Israel and Hezbollah fought a major war in 2006. Nasrallah, in his first speech since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on October 7, also threatened Israel's main ally the United States, hinting his Iran-backed group was ready to confront U.S. warships in the Mediterranean.
In addition to the array of small arms, machine guns and tens if not hundreds of thousands of rockets at its disposal, Hezbollah boasts a range of anti-tank and anti-air systems, a fleet of thousands of drones, and dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles. Fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah carry out a training exercise in Aaramta village in the Jezzine District, southern Lebanon, Sunday, May 21, 2023Hezbollah militants are seen standing alongside artillery weapons
INSS says the group's arsenal counts 150,000 to 200,000 rockets and missiles, including 'hundreds' of precision rockets. Its 7.62x39mm caliber offers sufficient stopping power, and its rugged design suits guerrilla warfare scenarios. Hezbollah's stockpile of M16s and M4s is considerably smaller than that of its Kalashnikovs because most of the rifles were captured from various foes including the IDF, US-armed Syrian rebels, or the Islamic State.
And finally, heavy machine guns such as the DShK and KPV are mounted on civilian vehicles to provide increased firepower for ground forces. Hezbollah has dozens of Soviet-produced T-55 and T-72 main battle tanks acquired from Syria following the Russian intervention in support of al-Assad's government, as well as a handful of other models.
The T-72 meanwhile represents an evolution in Soviet tank design, with improved armour, a more powerful 125mm gun, and enhanced mobility. Combining the manoeuvrability and light armour of an APC with more heavy weapons akin to a tank, the BMP-1 was a revolutionary vehicle, offering troop transport capabilities coupled with considerable firepower.
Besides these armoured vehicles, modified civilian trucks with mounted heavy weaponry, commonly known as technical vehicles, provide Hezbollah with more agility and flexibility on the battlefield. As always, Soviet platforms are a favourite, with the Katyusha rocket system - also known as Grad rockets - providing the backbone of the Lebanese outfits unguided short range rocket capabilities.
The Iranian made Fajr 3 and Fajr 5 rockets are among Hezbollah's most potent shorter range rockets, with ranges of up to 50-60 miles and heavier warheads than those carried by the Katyusha. Meanwhile, the Fateh 110 and M600 can strike even further, up to 180-200 miles, and are among the longest-range missiles possessed by Hezbollah.
MANPADS are designed to engage low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs. They have infrared homing systems that track the heat signature of aircraft engines. Hezbollah has recently purchased more Chinese weaponry, including the QW-18 MANPAD whose design is similar to that of the Igla 1.
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