Late on October 25, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that its air defense systems had intercepted an anti-aircraft missile that was launched from southern Lebanon at one of its drones.
The UAV was apparently not damaged in the attempt. The IDF said that another warplane struck the source of the missile fire in southern Lebanon.
Video footage posted on social media showed the launch of an Israeli interceptor, reportedly from a Patriot air defense system, at the incoming anti-aircraft missile over the northern Israeli city of Tiberias. Hebrew media said that the missile was launched by Hezbollah.
Since the October 7 Hamas-led surprise attack, Hezbollah and its allies have had near-daily exchanges of fire with the IDF along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Hezbollah possesses a large arsenal of man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), including Soviet-made Igla-1 missiles which were reportedly supplied by Syria. However, the air defense capabilities of the group are thought to be much more extensive.
Last August, Hezbollah showcased a launcher for a Soviet-made Kub air defense system at a new military museum in the southern Lebanese city of Baalbek, de-facto confirming that it is in possession of the system that was likely provided by Syria.
Hezbollah may be in possession of even more advanced air defense systems. In the past, several intelligence and media reports speculated that the group received Russian-made Pantsir-S1 short range and Buk-M2E medium-range air defense systems from Syria. However, this is yet to be confirmed.
There were also rumours of Hezbollah receiving short, medium and long-range air defense systems from Iran, like the Sayyad-4.
Hezbollah attempted to shoot down Israeli combat drones over southern Lebanon on more than one occasion in the past. However, it did not succeed.
The IDF also used its long-range air defenses, including the Arrow system, to intercept anti-aircraft missiles launched from Syria in the past, with some success.
Hezbollah has lost more than 40 of its fighters since the clashes with the IDF broke out on the Lebanon Front. Most of the casualties were caused by Israeli combat drones, which explains why the group may have attempted to shoot down one. The group’s air defenses will likely become more active in the coming days.
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“…..hezbollah has lost more than 40 of its fighters…..most of the casualties were caused by israeli drones….” this time it will not go as well for hezbollah as the 2006 war. now there are drones. israel does not have to send into lebanon easy target tanks or armoured vehicles, but can hunt down hezbollah units with drones.
reminder that hezbollah has access to iranian kamikaze drones as well on significant numbers that they have yet to use in this conflict. so isreal also has to worry. in addition to the hundreds of small surveillance drones hezbollah is already employing with the israelis are already complaining about. check up on the facts prior to making a statement. it would be costly for either side.
idiota, 17 soldados israelenses morreram desde o dia 07 de outubro de 2023!
“several intelligence and media reports speculated that the group received…”
the usual zionist propaganda blaming iran as if russia would allow syria to spare pantsir-s1 to the group and why not icbm’s while they’re at it.
já pedi para southfront mudar o #israel para #palestina mas eles não mudam. tem que mudar isso, a palestina existe há milênios e 90% dos leitores do southfront apóiam a causa palestina.
iran and all arab countries should send weapons to palestine – just as great britain, us, france and west did to ukraine. lebanon need sam system and so does palestine. for democracy and human rights.
please do not spread disinformation. it was not a surprise attack. every inch of the border is monitored 24/7 and it was breached in 15 places fcol