Sunday, May 15, 2022

Does Hezbollah have a new Iranian long range cruise missile? - analysis

A Hezbollah video circulating online purports to show that the terrorist group has some new munitions in its always expanding arsenal. Over the years, Hezbollah has stockpiled more than 100,000 missiles and rockets. However, the real danger of these weapons is that some have been upgraded or use new technology that enables them to be precision-guided munitions, or maneuvering munitions, drones and cruise missiles. 

A recent video posted online purports to show a glimpse of an “Abu Mahdi anti-ship cruise missile.”  A Twitter account that found this image notes “the new Hezbollah video shows a glance of what is likely an Abu-Mahdi anti-ship cruise missile launcher. That means Iran has armed Hezbollah with her longest range (reportedly 1000 km).”


This range would mean it could reach deep into the Eastern Mediterranean, including threatening a NATO naval support facility at Souda Bay in Crete. This means this is a strategic weapon that potentially threatens far more of an area than Israel in the case of a conflict.  



“It is important because if it turns out to be the Abu Mahdi cruise missile it has a range of roughly 1,000km so it could threaten gas rigs in the region, not only [of] Israel, so it is important, it is the first time we have a glimpse into this system in the hands of Hezbollah,” says Tal Inbar, a senior research fellow at the US-based Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance.  

The apparent unveiling of this threat comes as Hezbollah has slammed the US for backing a maritime boundary agreement between Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has slammed US official Amos Hochstein, a key White House advisor who focuses on global energy security. While Hezbollah said the country doesn’t need any more “Steins,” a reference to Hochstein being Jewish, recent reports have painted him as playing a key role. READ MORE