Israel is currently engaged in battles on multiple fronts, with its forces carrying out ground operations in Gaza and Lebanon, launching relentless attacks. In response, the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon is also striking back at Israel. It has been nearly a month since Israeli forces began targeting Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon, yet Hezbollah is not showing any signs of retreating. The reason behind this resilience is the support it receives from Iran. For a long time, Iran has provided Hezbollah fighters with funding, weapons, and training. Now, recent intelligence from Israeli naval officials has left Israel deeply alarmed.
Hezbollah’s Naval Unit
Israeli naval officials have revealed that Hezbollah still maintains an active naval branch, equipped with anti-ship missiles and possibly even naval ballistic missiles. This growing naval strength is causing significant concern for Israel. Over the past decade, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have closely monitored Hezbollah’s naval capabilities. According to the Jerusalem Post, an IDF report claims that Hezbollah possesses Russian-made supersonic Yakhont missiles, which have been dubbed the “nightmare of Western fleets.” These missiles were originally sold by Russia to Syria and later transferred to Hezbollah.
The report also states that, with Iranian support, Hezbollah has developed a secret naval unit. Although the IDF has successfully diminished some of these capabilities in recent years, Hezbollah’s naval unit still retains the ability to conduct coastal raids and attack warships. Their arsenal includes advanced missiles and radar systems, some of which resemble those used by Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Hezbollah’s Growing Weapons Arsenal Since 2006
Despite Hezbollah’s naval capabilities, Israeli naval officials believe that, due to the vigilance of the IDF, Hezbollah would be unable to launch a sudden naval attack near Lebanese waters. It is worth noting that during the 2006 Second Lebanon War, Hezbollah had struck the Israeli Navy Ship (INS) Hanit with a C-802 missile. Since then, Hezbollah has significantly upgraded its weapons arsenal.
The IDF is also concerned that, in recent months, Iran has supplied Hezbollah with a large number of missiles and drones. Additionally, the missile patterns used in Houthi attacks have caught the attention of Israel and Western countries, further intensifying their concerns regarding the potential threats from both Hezbollah and Houthi forces.
Why Israel and Western Allies Are Alarmed
According to an Israeli field expert, “In recent days, Houthi rebels have used a naval ballistic missile, which shocked many Western intelligence agencies. This missile has electro-optical targeting capabilities, a dangerous signal for the future.” The missile descends from a high altitude, attacking the ship at a sharp angle, making it highly lethal. The expert mentioned that only the Iron Dome defense system can counter such threats.
What’s the China Connection?
Reports indicate that China also possesses similar missile technology. It is believed that Iran has acquired this technology to not only develop such lethal missiles but also supply them to the Houthis in order to encircle Israel from all sides. Recently, Hezbollah’s drones managed to evade the Israeli defense system, Iron Dome, and launched an attack on positions of the Israeli security forces. Now, with the support of a naval unit, Hezbollah is presenting a significant challenge to Israel, effectively putting it in a checkmate position at sea.