Hezbollah announced that it had used, for the first time since the outbreak of the war, a cruise missile in an attack against one Israeli air base almost far away 200 kilometers from the front line with the Jewish state. A warlike development that occurs in the context ofexacerbation of exchanges of fire Between Israel and the Lebanese armed party close to the long-awaited announcement of a cease-fire.
Details of the missile and the video released by Hezbollah
Hezbollah released a video over the weekend in which they are seen swarms of drones launched to distract the Israeli air defensesfollowed by the missile, described as «winged» for the flaps that open in flight, increasing the range. Lebanese, Israeli and foreign military experts they say the missiles documented in the video appear to belong to the Iranian family Soumardeveloped from Soviet Kh-55acquired by Iran in the early 2000s.
Among the recognizable models is the Project 351/Pavehalready used by Iran, pro-Iranian Iraqi forces and the Houthis in Yemenwith a range between 800 hey 2,000 kilometers. Hezbollah has in fact claimed responsibility for an attack against the Hatzor Israeli air basenear the southern town of Ashdodlocated more than 170 kilometers from the area of south of Lebanon still under control of Hezbollahwhose fighters had to retreat northwards due to theIsraeli land offensive ongoing since last October 1st.
Missile characteristics and strategic use
This kind of missilesexperts say, uses the satellite navigation to ensure accuracy and is faster than suicide drones. In the video of Hezbollah drones are also seen, including models Sayad-107 And Shahed-101never before documented in the possession of the Lebanese party but already used by pro-Iranian forces in Iraq.
Context of the attack and Israeli responses
The announcement of the alleged missile attack on the part of Hezbollah it arrived after theIsraeli Air Force had killed dozens of people a Beirut and in the eastern valley of Bekaa with repeated air raids on areas inhabited by civilians. According to the Lebanese armed group, the Hatzor base it is a strategic objective. The base is described as a «primary airspace» with squadrons of war planes and units of reconnaissance.
Net of media censorship imposed by the Israeli authorities, for now there is no confirmation that the missile Hezbollah actually hit the base and caused damage.