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In October 2006 Hezbollah claimed to have an arsenal of at least 33,000 rockets.[1] The Pentagon believes that Hezbollah has a rocket arsenal of around 30.000. Katyusha rockets were the main offensive weapons used by Hezbollah in the 2006 Lebanon War in which it fired some 3,970 rockets into Israel from southern Lebanon.[2][3][4][5][6]
Contents |
| Rocket/missile (Hezbollah designation) | Diameter (mm) | Range (km) | Warhead (kg) | Number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katyusha | BM-21 | 122 | 20 | 21 | thousands |
| BM-27 | 220 | 40 | 100 | thousands | |
| Fajr-5 (Khaibar-1) | 333 | 75 | 150+ | ~200+ | |
| Zelzal-2 | 610 | 100-400 | 600 | ~500+ | |
The main arsenal of Hezbollah's rocket force consists of 40,000 rockets,[9] including the 122mm BM-21 rockets which have a range of 25 km. Hezbollah is also believed to have fired Shahin I missile which was described as a Ra'ad 1 missile by Hezbollah's TV station and has a range of 13 km.[7] However, the vast majority of their rocket arsenal are made up of 122mm Katyusha rockets.[10]
Hezbollah also possesses longer range rockets, namely the Fajr-5 rocket which has a range of 45 km ; the missile was fired into Israel in the 2006 conflict.[7] It was reported that in 2006 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) believed that Hezbollah had some 100 Fajr rockets.[11]
Fadjr rockets are normally fired on tank-mounted multiple launch systems. Before 2000, the rockets delivered to Hezbollah were believed to have come individually and to be fired from improvised missile launchers. The launching crew could fire the rockets remotely to avoid enemy's counter-battery fire. In early 2001, it became known that Hezbollah had deployed a belt of mobile multi-barreled rocket launchers and truck-mounted missiles along Israel’s northern border in preparation of a conflict with Israel.[12]
Hezbollah is also believed by some analysts to have the more potent Zelzal-2 which has a claimed range of 200–400 km but with realistic range estimated at 100 km. The Iranian-built missile could reach Tel Aviv from southern Lebanon. The missile can be fitted with a 600 kg high-explosive warhead and has a solid fuel system that allows it to be easily transported and prepared for firing. Although these are unguided missiles, they could cause serious damages if used on urban areas.
A report by Agence France Presse estimates a stockpile of 30 missiles of the Zelzal type.[13]
Israel said that Hezbollah has possession of Scud missiles that were provided to them by Syria. US officials believe hezbollah to have possession of these missiles as well.[8] The reports were denied by Syria.[14]
On 14 July 2006, Hezbollah forces fired, an anti-ship missile, at the Israeli corvette INS Hanit, killing four sailors and inflicting substantial damage. A second missile sunk a Cambodian vessel crewed by Egyptian sailors, although no deaths were reported.[12] The Israeli military believes that Iranian advisers from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) were present at the launch during the attack.[15] Iran has denied involvement in the incident.[16]
Iran has supplied Hezbollah with Mohajer-4 Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).[12] These have flown successfully into Israeli airspace in November 2004 and April 2005.
According to the United States, Iran has provided weapons to Hezbollah as well as provided training and funding. In addition, Syria has permitted Iran to use Damascus as a transshipment point to supply Hezbollah.[17]
In another report, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has helped build Hezbollah's underground storerooms in the Bekaa Valley to hold huge amounts of missiles and ammunition. Hezbollah's missile force includes some 200 technicians and experts trained in Iran.[18] The Zelzal-2 rockets require expertise to aim and launch effectively, and Hezbollah may require direct support from Iranian Revolutionary Guards to operate the rockets.[12]
During the 2006 Lebanon War Hezbollah fired about 3,699 rockets into Israel, killing 44 civilians.[19]
On August 6, 2006 (one week before the end of the conflict) Israeli officials believed that its operation destroyed the vast majority of Hezbollah's longer-range rockets and about a third of the shorter range Katyushas, but the group still has many Katyushas which are smaller and easier to hide or store underground, and can be set up and fired in a few minutes.[15][20]
On August 13, 2006, the day before the negotiated ceasefire was to come into effect, Hezbollah launched its fiercest barrage, firing 250 rockets into Israel.