Publication date:
July 23, 2024
Hezbollah's Advanced Anti-Tank Capabilities Pose Serious Threat to Israeli Armor
Hezbollah has significantly improved its anti-tank capabilities since 2006, potentially threatening Israeli tanks and armored vehicles in any future conflict in Lebanon.
Military Technology
Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based militant group, has substantially enhanced its anti-tank warfare capabilities since its 2006 war with Israel. This development poses a significant threat to Israeli armored forces in any potential future conflict.
The group's Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, recently warned Israel about the consequences of deploying tanks in southern Lebanon, stating, "If your tanks come to southern Lebanon, you will not suffer a shortage of tanks, because you will have no tanks left." This statement underscores the confidence Hezbollah has in its anti-tank capabilities.
Hezbollah's anti-tank arsenal now includes advanced weapons such as the Iranian-made Almas missile, reverse-engineered from Israeli Spike ATGMs, and extended-range AT-14 Spriggans (NATO reporting name for the Russian Kornet) with a six-mile range. The group has also developed the Tharallah system, which fires two missiles in quick succession to overcome active protection systems like Israel's Trophy.
The mountainous terrain of southern Lebanon favors defenders and complicates armored operations. Hezbollah has adapted its tactics to this environment, developing a 'kill team' approach using small, highly mobile groups of fighters equipped with anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). These teams can quickly deploy to ambush Israeli armor in the region's steep-sided valleys.
Israel's armored forces have improved since 2006, introducing upgraded Merkava main battle tanks and the heavily armored Namer troop carrier. Many of these vehicles are equipped with the Trophy active protection system. However, the effectiveness of these improvements against Hezbollah's new capabilities remains untested in full-scale combat.
Any Israeli armored incursion into Lebanon would likely be supported by infantry, artillery, aircraft, and drones. However, these supporting elements could also be vulnerable to Hezbollah's large missile arsenal, which includes surface-to-air missiles.
The potential for significant armor losses in Lebanon could have serious implications for Israel's military strategy and public opinion. As a result, any future Israeli operations in Lebanon may favor more limited ground incursions rather than large-scale armored assaults, to minimize exposure to Hezbollah's anti-tank capabilities.
This situation highlights the ongoing evolution of modern warfare, where advanced anti-tank weapons in the hands of non-state actors can pose a serious threat to the armored forces of conventional militaries. It also underscores the importance of adapting tactics and technologies to counter emerging threats in complex combat environments.
The group's Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, recently warned Israel about the consequences of deploying tanks in southern Lebanon, stating, "If your tanks come to southern Lebanon, you will not suffer a shortage of tanks, because you will have no tanks left." This statement underscores the confidence Hezbollah has in its anti-tank capabilities.
Hezbollah's anti-tank arsenal now includes advanced weapons such as the Iranian-made Almas missile, reverse-engineered from Israeli Spike ATGMs, and extended-range AT-14 Spriggans (NATO reporting name for the Russian Kornet) with a six-mile range. The group has also developed the Tharallah system, which fires two missiles in quick succession to overcome active protection systems like Israel's Trophy.
The mountainous terrain of southern Lebanon favors defenders and complicates armored operations. Hezbollah has adapted its tactics to this environment, developing a 'kill team' approach using small, highly mobile groups of fighters equipped with anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). These teams can quickly deploy to ambush Israeli armor in the region's steep-sided valleys.
Israel's armored forces have improved since 2006, introducing upgraded Merkava main battle tanks and the heavily armored Namer troop carrier. Many of these vehicles are equipped with the Trophy active protection system. However, the effectiveness of these improvements against Hezbollah's new capabilities remains untested in full-scale combat.
Any Israeli armored incursion into Lebanon would likely be supported by infantry, artillery, aircraft, and drones. However, these supporting elements could also be vulnerable to Hezbollah's large missile arsenal, which includes surface-to-air missiles.
The potential for significant armor losses in Lebanon could have serious implications for Israel's military strategy and public opinion. As a result, any future Israeli operations in Lebanon may favor more limited ground incursions rather than large-scale armored assaults, to minimize exposure to Hezbollah's anti-tank capabilities.
This situation highlights the ongoing evolution of modern warfare, where advanced anti-tank weapons in the hands of non-state actors can pose a serious threat to the armored forces of conventional militaries. It also underscores the importance of adapting tactics and technologies to counter emerging threats in complex combat environments.
