Three Israeli Merkava Tanks Neutralised in Southern Lebanon – Reports

<p >Lebanese and Israeli sources have reported that three Israeli Merkava tanks have been hit with anti tank missiles in border engagements. This follows multiple reports from both sides that Israeli ground units ambushed in Southern Lebanon have <a href=" >taken significant losses</a>, with the Israeli publication Yedioth Ahronoth having stated that offensives into southern Lebanon have developing catastrophically, and that losses of personnel and equipment have been very serious. Other Israeli sources have reported a “high-casualty event" near the border and the evacuation of the wounded using at least four helicopters after an ambush, with 20 ambulances and multiple helicopters later bringing wounded Rambam Hospital. Hezbollah has previously demonstrated advanced anti tank capabilities, and when<a href=" target="_blank"> repelling an Israeli invasion</a> in 2006 made effective use of Russian Kornet missiles acquired through Syria, and other less advanced systems, to cause major losses among Israeli vehicles including Merkava III and new Merkava IV tanks. The Kornet has since <a href=" target="_blank">proven effective against</a> all major modern classes of Western main battle tank in Ukraine, and achieved kills against the American M1 Abrams, German Leopard 2 and <a href=" target="_blank">British Challenger 2</a>.</p><p ><img src=" title="Hezbollah Militiaman with Kornet Missiles "></p><p >Hezbollah’s anti tank capabilities have improved very significantly since 2006, and while the militia group is not known to have acquired new Russian anti tank systems, it has acquired systems more advanced than those fielded by the Russian Army from either North Korea or Iran – namely systems which can fire without direct line of sight and engage targets from their vulnerable top armour. Such a system was <a href=" >first seen</a> being used by Hezbollah in January during border skirmishes with Israeli forces. It is thought to be either the <a href=" target="_blank">North Korean Bulsae-4 </a>or the Iranian Almas, with the two countries alongside China being the only producers of such advanced anti tank systems that are outside the Western sphere of influence. Both Pyongyang and Tehran have been Hezbollah’s leading supporters and suppliers for decades. The Iranian Almas system developed in the 2010s has long been speculated to have been developed based on a study of the similar Israeli Spike system which Hezbollah captured from Israeli forces in significant numbers in 2006.</p>