File image.
Hezbollah has used one of Iran’s latest short-range precision-guided ballistic missiles in an attack against the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in southern Lebanon, marking the first time the advanced weapon system has been spotted with the group.
The Ababil missile targeted a gathering of the IDF near the town of al-Qantara on June 9, although footage of the attack was released by Hezbollah four days later.
The solid-fueled missile, also known as the Arman, has a range of 86 kilometers and carries a warhead with 45 kilograms of high-explosive.
It relies on a satellite-aided inertial navigation system for guidance. A version dubbed the Ababil OP is also equipped with an optical seeker for terminal guidance. This specific version is believed to be capable of engaging naval vessels with high precision.
The missile fired by Hezbollah was from a more recent version, recognized by its hexagon-shaped control fins. This version — first shown to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force (IRGC-ASF) exhibition in 2023 — is canisterised and can be launched vertically.
Hezbollah, however, launched the missile at an angle using a dual launcher compatible with several other types of shot-range precision-guided ballistic missiles.
Considering that this version of the Ababil appeared in Iran in 2023, it is safe to assume that Hezbollah received missiles of this type via Syria before the fall of the regime of former president Bashar al-Assad. The fact that the missile only appeared now, however, does raise some questions.
In recent weeks, Hezbollah has begun targeting IDF gatherings in southern Lebanon with ballistic and cruise missiles. While the group initially used some of its longer-range systems — which are easier for Israeli air defenses to intercept — more recent attacks have employed short-range precision-guided ballistic missiles that are harder to detect and shoot down.
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one can see israel’s incentive to wipe-out any and all of “the resistance” asap because they are employing an increasing variety of cheap and/or stealthy offensive weapons to hit the apartheid state at any time and from any direction. there will never be peace for the zioz in west asia.