Since 2012, Hezbollah has engaged on a military deployment to Syria to fight for the Assad regime in the ongoing civil war. "[298] Newsweek writes that Hezbollah as a whole is stronger than the Syrian government. [65] Hezbollah's intelligence organization was formed in the Bekaa Valley in the summer of 1982 and was originally modeled off the Jihaz al-Razd, the Fatah security apparatus, and the Amal's security apparatus. Exploring the Iran-Hezbollah Relationship: A Case Study of how State Sponsorship affects Terrorist Group Decision-Making. Mercedes, Volvo, Range Rover, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota etc. [15] Hezbollah's strategic maneuving capability is a main weakness, but the party's skills in tactical maneuvering are "proficient". [231] Hezbollah's intelligence network in Israel remains heavily focused on identifying targets for rockets. (2014) Rogue Rocketeers: Artillery Rockets and Armed Groups. [72][84][154][q], Hezbollah runs an "excellent, diverse, and hard-to-target"[15] military communications network, which Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called "the group's most important weapon" in 2008. [104] In addition, the group is described as more capable and dangerous than any Sunni extremist groups in Lebanon[120] and more capable than UNIFIL. [144] In 2006, Hezbollah's style of mission command and high autonomy resulted in the organization behaving on the battlefield similarly to the IDF. Single and three shot burst. ", "International Institute for Strategic Studies – July 19th - - The Globe and Mail -- What rules govern the conflict? Or perhaps the IRGC-QF and Hezbollah together wrote one review; sources dither. [75], In terms of design, Hezbollah training camps are structured and inspired by Israeli training camps, which Hezbollah studies. "[48] Hezbollah in the early 1990s performed dedicated staff work, mirroring their Israeli adversaries. [101] Syria also reportedly increased arms shipments to Hezbollah to induce the party to fight on behalf of the regime. "[74] Hezbollah snipers are often described as well-trained and "avoid conversations, behave arrogantly towards others, dress well and hate small talk." [238] Hezbollah has reportedly used ballistic missiles in combat in Yemen against Saudi Arabia, which has allowed them to improve and test the missiles' payload and guidance systems. [77][10], In the early 1980s, some Hezbollah fighters travelled to Iran and fought against the Iraqi Army in the Iran–Iraq War. Hezbollah bunkers are well-defended, with blast doors and security cameras, and are deeply buried to stymie Israeli airstrikes. In 2006, the group claimed to have 50 trained drone pilots. [151] Iranian electronic warfare specialists assisted in the development of the network and supplied advanced Iranian equipment. [126], In 2006, Hezbollah fighters "often participated in extended direct firefights with the IDF. [27] Hezbollah reservists have been rotated through Syria on short-term deployments, along with the party's regular fighters and commanders. "[15], Hezbollah typically does not discuss their military operations[g] and accurate and reliable information on their strengths and capabilities is often non-existent or classified. [28][30] Since this event, Hezbollah has been "Libanising" and becoming more integrated into Lebanese society. [72] Hezbollah only shot down one CH-53 transport helicopter,[223] apparently with an anti-tank missile, which was considered very light losses for the IDF.[72]. [32], Qualitatively, Hezbollah is described as ruthless and arrogant, willing to use physical force to effect political change, and prioritizing hard power. Part of the, Sometimes called a Katyusha rocket, acquired from Iran, Solid-fueled guided missile. In 1992, Hezbollah decided to … Both support an increase in U.S. military aid to Israel, which received $2.4 billion worth of U.S. equipment and arms this year. [15] Some of Hezbollah's bunkers were located very close to UN observation posts or the Israeli border, and had running water, thick concrete, and weeks of supplies. Israel responded with overwhelming force, sparking the 34-day 2006 Lebanon War. [76] Hezbollah apparently stole a combat simulator from Fouad Shehab Command and Staff College and uses it to train anti-tank teams. [31] In general, there is no expert consensus on the degree of IRGC involvement in arming and training Hezbollah. Hezbollah's training of Iraqi militants focused particularly on small arms, reconnaissance, small unit tactics, and communications, with a focus on effecting IED attacks, EFP usage, and kidnappings. This causes Hezbollah to have to justify its actions to maintain public support and to avoid war. [74] Promotion within the ranks comes from patient talent spotting of trusted and gifted individuals. [145] Hezbollah is expanding from a powerful, localized asymmetrical actor into a regional military power. [32] SLA morale, and even IDF morale, declined as the insurgency went on. [64] Armaments increased again after Israel bombed a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor in 2007, with Assad transferring guided M-600 missiles to Hezbollah in response. [84] Dual-use technology, including night vision goggles, laser rangefinders, GPS receivers, advanced aircraft-analysis and design software, stun guns, nitrogen laser cutters, naval equipment, and ultrasonic dog deterrents were purchased from private vendors in the United States and Canada in the early 2000s. Wheat, Treston L., "The Fruits of War: Israel and the Second Lebanon War" (2011). [27] As a senior U.S. official said, "Hezbollah is pretty damn good. Hezbollah says that their network does not have commercial uses, does not penetrate Christian areas, and is an integral part of their arsenal. Reportedly, Israel has interdicted Fateh-110/M600 guided missiles, drones, anti-ship missiles, and air defense systems. [262] In a future war with Israel, estimates for the number of rockets fired per day range from 500[32] to over 1000, with a higher opening blow in the initial stages of the conflict. At this time in Lebanon, terrorism was seen as unconventional warfare and a legitimate extension of political struggle. [74] Agents from Iran's Ministry of Intelligence train Hezbollah as well, and North Korean instructors possibly participated in the 1980s and 1990s. [28] The anti-tank weaponry used by the party steadily increased in quality over the duration of the insurgency. [28] Originally Hezbollah was just one of several militias fighting the Israelis, but by 1985 it was preeminent[42] and by the late 1980s it was clearly dominant. [127] Landmines known to be used by Hezbollah include the M15 mine and the M18 Claymore mine. [155], Hezbollah has hundreds of launch sites for its rockets throughout southern Lebanon,[15] an increase from 200 to 300 launch sites in 2006. Hezbollah’s weapons from ten years ago are on display at the Mleeta resistance museum, where you … ", "طلائع قوات إيرانية خاصة وصلت دمشق و"حزب الله" يملك لواء مدرّعاً من 75 دبابة", "Report: Syria to give Hezbollah Soviet tank division", "Lebanese Hezbollah Offers a Glimpse of its Firepower", "Hezbollah Stirs Controversy with Military Parade in Syria", "Hezbollah in Iraq: A Little Help Can Go a Long Way", "Dynamic Stalemate: Surveying Syria's Military Landscape. "[23] Their small arms at this time included AK-47 and M16 rifles, Bangalore torpedoes, hand grenades, RPGs, and M40 recoilless rifles. [32] Hezbollah's weaponry is only one component of their overall strength and should absolutely not be seen as indicative of their military strategy. "[127] Iran has transferred to Hezbollah some old artillery fire-control, targeting, and damage assessment systems. [84], Hezbollah has long been considered one of the best armed non-state actors in the region or in the world[100][70] and its arsenal of weapons has grown in quality and quantity[54] for over three decades. [331] Since 2000, Hezbollah has focused on acquiring a database of Israeli civilian and military infrastructure via public reporting and spies to target with rocket artillery in the event of war. [334] The counterintelligence organization contains a "combat unit", which went active around 2004. [78] Fighters are known to be transported to training camps in blacked-out vans and to have little knowledge of the identities of their instructors or comrades. Washington (D.C.): CSIS Press. [32] On the other hand, the Hezbollah high command asserts "firm operational control" over its strategic missile force. [84] Hezbollah's concept of operations centered around continued short-range rocket attacks against Israel. [275], Although the group has suffered heavily from the war, with over two thousand deaths,[346] it has also served as a powerful recruiting drive among Shia youth and resulted in the preservation to date of the Assad government. [27] Hezbollah's use of stockpiles, instead of a logistics train, and the "high degree of autonomy given to junior leaders" differentiate it from normal Arab armies. 1. [15] These fortifications are also well camouflaged, with launch sites particularly challenging to locate. Charles Shoebridge, a security analyst and former UK counter-terrorism intelligence officer, in an interview with RT compared the M113 tank to the “Kalashnikov of the personnel carrier world,” adding that the Lebanese Army was the most probable source of the equipment. Hezbollah and Israel engaged in a sixteen-day campaign marked by thousands of rocket and artillery strikes and intensified fighting. Israeli sources say that North Korean instructors traveled to Lebanon in 2004 and oversaw construction of Hezbollah's underground infrastructure. [163][164], Iranian military theorists downplay the impact of advanced weaponry for Hezbollah, suggesting that human resources are more important for determining victory. Hezbollah has also used manned paragliders or powered parachutes. [131] Hezbollah's long range rockets were top priority targets for the IAF in the 2006 war[131] and the IAF destroyed 18 of 19 to 21 of Hezbollah's Zelzal launchers, and Hezbollah never used the rocket during the war. [15] In 2013, a United States federal court found that North Korea gave Hezbollah "advanced weapons, expert advice and construction assistance" in building "a massive network of underground military installations, tunnels, bunkers, depots and storage facilities in southern Lebanon. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is working with Hezbollah to create facilities in Lebanon to convert unguided rockets and missiles to precision … [2], In 2006, about 12–15% of Hezbollah's forces were part of ATGM teams. Journal of Material Culture. | JSSNews", "JINSA Online -- Hezbollah, Already a Capable Military Force, Makes Full Use of Civilian Shields and Media Manipulation", "Armor: Hapless Hezbollah ATGMs Revealed", "Hezbollah's strategy: Rockets on Tel Aviv, raids on Galilee", "The Threat of Iranian Missile Development and Export - The Israel Project", "Iran supplies improved rockets to Syria and Hizbullah - Jane's Missil…", "Hezbollah: Not a terror group but a midsized army", "Hezbollah's Shot at Permanency in Syria", "Hezbollah Is Using U.S.-Made Military Vehicles in Syria, Israel Says", "Report: Satellite Images Reveal New Hezbollah Airstrip", "How Did Hezbollah's Drone Evade a Patriot Missile? Estimates for Hezbollah's overall strength and manpower vary widely. [152] They extensively use civilian homes and buildings as fighting locations, with the reasoning that "a house can be destroyed, the village can be destroyed, but not the homeland. The military situation is clear: Hezbollah is the strongest military force, equipped with advanced weaponry, training and operational experience, which it gained during the years it fought Israel and the civil war in Syria. [20] Hezbollah rated the performance of their bunkers and camouflaged firing positions in fenced off "security pockets" in rural areas as worthwhile. (2011). [20][l] The IDF and independent observers knew that Hezbollah had built some infrastructure, but the scale was unanticipated. [54], Hezbollah has not deployed suicide bombers against a military target since December 30, 1999, but may have been prepared to do so during the 2006 Lebanon War. [84] Some of Hezbollah's tunnels have been thousands of meters long. [311], Hezbollah first acquired UAVs in 2002[312][313] and their first known use of a drone came on November 7, 2004. Although Hezbollah acquired SA-7 'Grail' anti-aircraft missiles and first fired them in November 1991, they would have almost no success attacking Israeli aircraft. [25] Hezbollah's rocket stock grew tenfold between 2006 and 2015. Part Three: Israel Population Centers as Targets for Hezbollah Rocket Fire. "[32] In this sense, it functions as a deterrent,[84][236] and is Hezbollah's main means of leveraging a favorable outcome to a war against Israel. Hezbollah's media activities mainly happen through Hezbollah's newspapers, Hezbollah's al-Manar television station, and Hezbollah's Radio Nour. This page was last edited on 19 May 2021, at 00:25. There is no evidence Hezbollah has acquired chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. [64] One study says that if Hezbollah has acquired the SA-8 system, this would pose a greater threat to Israeli helicopters and UAVs, but not to Israel's advanced F-16 and F-15 fighters. But a comprehensive anti-Hezbollah policy should go beyond law enforcement and sanctions to address Hezbollah’s growing domination of Lebanon – the group’s main base of political and military power, and the epicenter of its operations to threaten key U.S. allies and interests across the Middle East on behalf of its Iranian patrons. [147] Some IDF sources describe the party's Syrian operations as an "Eastern Command" as well. Guns Down Mystery Drone Over Syria", "Israeli Arrested for Selling Paragliding Equipment to Iranian", "Hezbollah's UAV Biological Weapon Capability: A Game Changer? [54] Many Hezbollah rockets are stored underground in a "ready-to-fire" mode. [20] As one observer dryly noted in the 1990s, "When a Katyusha falls on somebody's house, it is hard to tell them this is going well. Along with the organization's use of PSYOPS and propaganda warfare, this led to plummeting morale within the SLA. Hezbollah operates with unusual secrecy for a fighting force, so many claims about their weapon systems can not be confirmed. [119], Hezbollah has SIGINT, HUMINT, and IMINT capabilities. 14: Iss. [347] The party's involvement in Syria may threaten its war readiness, although the party maintains strong support among Lebanese shias. It is composed of wire, fiber optic, runners, signals, and the civilian communication network. (2007) p. 108. [84] This command is possibly called the "Haidar Unit". Hezbollah had about 12-13,000 rockets on the eve of the 2006 war, of which 11,000 were supplied via Iran[264] and about 100 were from the medium-range Fajr series. [330] Hezbollah has influence within the government of Lebanon's security services. Hezbollah established an amphibious warfare unit in the 1990s, which trains in Lebanon and Iran. [124] For larger operations, Hezbollah has sometimes demonstrated "task organized" forces, including an assault team, a breach element, and support team. [84] Since 2006, Hezbollah seems to have made more of an effort to use recoilless rifles and cheap ATGMs in their swarming mix. Iran's Military Forces and Warfighting Capabilities (2007), Benjamin S. Lambeth, Air Operations in Israel's War Against Hezbollah: Learning from Lebanon and Getting It Right in Gaza (Project Air Force). [54] The training of Hezbollah reservists is similarly unclear. [32] By identifying and targeting Israel's weak point, casualties, Hezbollah was able to win a war of attrition. The party used mortars to shell IDF and SLA outposts during the insurgency period, and captured some artillery pieces during the Lebanese Civil War and the collapse of the SLA militia. For decades media has played a critical role in Hezbollah's military strategy. [28][30] Most Lebanese are not Shiite, and even most of Lebanon's Shiites do not want to live in an Islamic state. [27], The group improved rapidly in the early 1990s, progressing from losing five fighters for every Israeli soldier killed in 1990 to 1.5 in 1993, a ratio that would roughly hold till the end of the decade. However, there has been much speculation and concern about Hezbollah's potential acquisition of chemical weapons, particularly given the state collapse in nearby Syria. [84], On 14 July 2006, Hezbollah forces fired a C-802 anti-ship missile at the Israeli corvette INS Hanit, killing four sailors and inflicting substantial damage. [167] The party is also attempting to develop capabilities and operational concepts to attack American forces "in areas where they have traditionally found sanctuary. "[72] Training lasts 90 days. [29] Scholar Iver Gabrielson says the main reasons for Hezbollah's victory were its "pragmatism, social services and political participation. p. 169 and 313. [65][66] As a hybrid actor, Hezbollah's main weakness is its need to maintain civilian support to hide among the population while causing great harm to civilians if war breaks out. Friedson, Michael; Bybelezer, Charles; The Media Line. John Arquilla, "It Takes a Network- On Countering Terrorism While Reforming the Military," Testimony before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities, presented 18 September 2008. Although these devices lack precision, their sheer number make them effective weapons of terror. [54] Hezbollah operations in this area are particularly centered around the town of Baalbek. [107], Because Syria's once-capable air defense network shielded the country from Israeli airstrikes, Hezbollah has for decades used western Syria as a logistics and supply hub. [82], Sources describe Hezbollah in peacetime as "careful, patient, [and] attuned to gathering intelligence" who perform staff work and long-term planning.
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