Hezbollah, a highly secretive and complex organization, comprises a significant military force backed by Iran and plays a significant role in the Middle East Region. When dealing with Hezbollah’s extensive arsenal, it is crucial to understand that its power stemmed from the financial and military support of Iran and Syria, providing the militant group access to an extensive range of armaments. This article provides a guide to some of the weapons in Hezbollah’s arsenal, striving to provide a comprehensive visual view.
1. **Missiles and Rockets**
The backbone of Hezbollah’s military power lies heavily in their rocket and missile arsenal. These include short-range Katyusha rockets, mid-range Fajr-3 and Fajr-5, long-range Zelzal-2 missiles, and even the Khaibar-1, known as M-302s, which have a range of up to 200 kilometers. Moreover, the group is purported to own Scud-D missiles provided by Syria with a range of up to 700 kilometers. Notably, Hezbollah’s missile and rocket inventory poses a significant threat owing to their extensive range and payload carrying capacity.
2. **Drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – UAVs)**
The militant group has a variety of reconnaissance and combat drones. Notably, the group utilizes Iranian made Ababil, Mirsad, and Mohajer variants for surveillance operations. Hezbollah has reportedly converted some of these UAVs into suicide drones – loaded with explosives and flown directly into targets.
3. **Anti-Aircraft Weapons**
Hezbollah has several anti-aircraft weaponry systems. Most of these systems offer short to medium-range defense. These include the Russian built SA-7 (Strella-2), SA-14 (Strella-3), and Igla-S (SA-24) variant man-portable air-defense systems. Some reports also suggest that the group has the SA-8 Gecko (a mobile, medium-range surface-to-air missile system), and FIM-92 Stinger surface-to-air missile systems.
4. **Anti-Tank Weapons**
Hezbollah holds a vast array of anti-tank weapons. They possess the RPG-29, a portable, reusable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. But perhaps the most prominent in their arsenal are the series of anti-tank missiles provided by Iran, notably the Russian designed 9M133 Kornet anti-tank guided missile.
5. **Naval Capabilities**
Over time, Hezbollah has also developed naval capabilities. The group is known to have maintained a fleet of small, fast-attack craft equipped with anti-ship missiles. Among these, the Nasr-1, an Iranian made anti-ship cruise missile, is the most notable.
6. **Small Arms**
Among the standard infantry weapons, the AK-47 Kalashnikov Rifles and Type 56 rifles are the most used by Hezbollah. The group also has a range of sniper rifles, machine guns, pistols, and anti-material rifles.
7. **Explosive Materials**
This list wouldn’t be complete without the inclusion of explosive materials, often used by Hezbollah in their guerrilla warfare. The group is known for the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), explosive-formed penetrators (EFPs), and other forms of explosives in their operations.
It is essential to mention that the expansion of Hezbollah’s arsenal stands as a threat not only because of the weapon ranges and capacities, but also due to the group’s command structure and the development of their advanced strategies. They have shown adaptability, versatility, and resilience in their tactics, which makes them a considerable force within the region, and undoubtedly, it is their arsenal that underpins these capabilities.
