The missile that was launched by Hezbollah towards Tel Aviv was reportedly an Iranian-made Qadr-1, a medium-range ballistic missile that can carry a warhead of between 700kg and 1,000kg.
It would have been enough to destroy most or all of a sizable building, had it not been intercepted over central Israel by one of the country's multiple air defences, in this case a system called "David’s Sling".
Hezbollah has an arsenal of between 100,000 and 150,000 rockets, drones and missiles.
Up to 10,000 of these are believed to be medium-range, precision-guided ballistic missiles, like the Fateh-110, that can reach Tel Aviv and most of the population centres in Israel.
(Jerusalem is considered a less likely target because of its large Palestinian population.)
Last month, Hezbollah released a video boasting of its vast, underground arsenal of these missiles, threatening to unleash them on Israel should war break out.
Israel’s "Operation Northern Arrows", launched this week, is seeking to destroy as much of this arsenal as possible, including where Israel says missiles have been concealed in private homes and garages.
But Hezbollah’s subterranean network of tunnels and caves, built into the hard rock of southern Lebanon, is extensive.
Despite all the air strikes, it most likely retains the capability to fire a massive barrage of missiles at Israeli cities, but its leadership also knows the retaliation would be devastating for Lebanon.
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@6FQDS6ZRepublican2yrs2Y
Don’t you think that at this stage the IDF knows about Hezbollah arms and tactics?
@DovesJayLibertarian2yrs2Y
From a strategic standpoint, the success of Hamas operations have provided the IDF with the tactical breadth and experience to efficiently do the same on a larger Hezbollah terrorist organization.
If anyone thinks that Hamas is literally eliminated, they would be deluding themselves, similarly if someone thinks Hamas is even a fraction of the terrorist army they were, he is deluding himself. Hamas was routed, but eliminating every member and supporter of Hamas is virtually impossible.
@6FQDS6ZRepublican2yrs2Y
Israel did not ask for this war. They have every right to do what they must for their citizens to be able to live in their homes in Northern Israel. Hezbollah does not see it that way. In their view Israel must be wiped off the face of the earth. Hezbollah sees driving Jews from their homes in North Israel as a good start. If Israel's back is against the wall existentially then they may have no choice but to unleash nukes, if they have them, to destroy Hezbollah. They will also need to disarm Iran the head of the snake.
@GnuEleanorVeteran2yrs2Y
Yes, that “quagmire” line caught my attention too. Hamas is no longer a threat to anybody except the people of Gaza. If Hamas’ terrorist leader is dead—and there is increasing evidence that such is the case—that’s an added bonus.
@829WDJHConstitution2yrs2Y
Hezbollah’s vast Iranian supplied arsenal is not waiting for Israel in Lebanon because it’s sent ~10,000 bombs aimed at civilians since October 8th and because there is, unfortunately, no Lebanon. Its terrorist occupied land formerly known as Lebanon. Also. All of this could have been prevented if it weren’t for the incompetence, weakness and hypocrisy of the Biden-Harris administration which failed Israel and more importantly, the US.
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