Hezbollah has incorporated advanced Israeli anti-armor missiles into its massive arsenal, employing them in confrontations and operations against Israeli occupation forces attempting to infiltrate towns and villages in southern Lebanon.
How Hezbollah Acquired Israeli “Spike” Missiles
It is believed that Hezbollah fighters seized Israeli “Spike” anti-tank missiles during the 2006 war. These missiles were reportedly shipped to Iran for reverse engineering, according to Israeli and Western officials, as well as weapons experts.
Eighteen years later, Hezbollah began deploying modified “Almas” missiles against Israeli military bases, communication systems, and air defense platforms. These missiles, known for their precision and power, pose a significant challenge to Israeli forces, according to a report by The New York Times.
The “Almas” missiles boast a range of up to 10 miles and are equipped with advanced guidance systems to track and target objectives accurately.
Iran’s Role in Reverse Engineering Weapons
Iran’s reverse engineering of weaponry is not new. For years, Tehran has replicated U.S. drones and missiles for use against adversaries. However, the “Almas” missile signifies a leap in Iran’s engineering capabilities, radically altering regional dynamics, said Mohammad Al-Basha, a Middle East weapons analyst and risk consultancy expert based in Virginia.
“This shift from the gradual spread of older missile generations to the rapid deployment of advanced technologies across active battlefields is a game-changer,” Al-Basha told the newspaper this week.
Israeli Concerns About Hezbollah’s Arsenal
Israeli officials, who spoke anonymously about sensitive intelligence, confirmed that “Almas” missiles are among the advanced weaponry discovered since the start of Israel’s invasion of Lebanon nearly two months ago. These missiles stand out amidst an arsenal that includes lower-quality munitions, such as Russian “Kornet” anti-tank missiles.
A report by The Wall Street Journal last week revealed that Israeli forces advancing in southern Lebanon encountered large caches of Russian weapons, enhancing Hezbollah’s combat capabilities.
The “Almas” missile is a guided weapon that can be fired without direct line-of-sight, making it adaptable for deployment from ground vehicles, drones, helicopters, and shoulder-mounted launchers.
Key Features of the “Almas” Missile
The missile employs a “top attack” mode, meaning it strikes targets from above rather than from the side. This feature makes it particularly effective against lightly armored tanks, leaving them vulnerable to destruction.
The “Almas” missile first surfaced years after the 2006 Lebanon war. Following the conflict, Israeli forces examined equipment deployed in Lebanon and discovered that a complete “Spike” missile system, including a launch platform and missile units, had likely been abandoned in the field. This discovery raised alarm within Israeli military circles about the possibility of these weapons being transported to Iran for replication.
Hezbollah’s Local Production of “Almas” Missiles
Israeli officials report that Hezbollah now manufactures “Almas” missiles in Lebanon, reducing its reliance on Iranian supply chains. It is also believed that Iran continues to produce these missiles for its own military use.
Weapons experts note that the “Almas” missile was publicly displayed in 2020 during a presentation of newly produced drones for the Iranian army. The missile was also tested in military exercises in 2021.
Hezbollah’s Operational Use of “Almas” Missiles
In January, Hezbollah released a first-person video of an attack on an Israeli naval base in Rosh HaNikra, on the Lebanese border, claiming to have used the “Almas” missile. Several subsequent videos released in the spring also purported to showcase the missile targeting Israeli positions.
