What It Is About

Security experts have raised concerns about Hezbollah’s extensive armament stockpile, heavily financed and equipped by Iran. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently confirmed a successful operation in Beirut, eliminating a senior Hezbollah commander following a devastating attack on Israeli soil.

Why It Matters

Hezbollah’s vast arsenal, which includes over 150,000 different types of Iran-backed weapons, poses a grave threat to Israel’s security. The targeted weapons systems demonstrate Iran’s continued influence and the substantial risk this alliance represents to Israeli civilians.

The Big Picture

The IDF identified the weapon used in the recent attack on Israel’s Golan Heights—a Falaq-1 rocket with a warhead exceeding 100 pounds of explosives. This incident resulted in the tragic death of 12 Israeli youths on a children’s soccer field. In response, Israeli forces struck back, neutralizing a high-ranking Hezbollah commander in Beirut.

Hezbollah’s Expansive Arsenal

According to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), Hezbollah’s military inventory includes:

• 150,000 mortars, short to long-range rockets, and ballistic missiles
• 40,000-80,000 short-range rockets capable of hitting northern Israel
• Mid to long-range rockets threatening deeper Israeli territories

Prime Minister Visits Tragic Site

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the site in Majdal Shams, where the rocket attack occurred, emphasizing Israel’s commitment to protecting its citizens against such heinous acts of terror.

Foreseeable Military Strategies

The FDD report highlights the IDF’s strategic challenges in countering Hezbollah’s extended missile range capabilities. Pushing Hezbollah forces farther north, beyond the reach of their mid and long-range fires, would require the IDF to advance well past Lebanon’s northern regions, potentially even up to Tripoli.

Complex Operational Environment

Hezbollah’s arsenal is reportedly stored in a network of underground bunkers located in populated Lebanese regions, making surgical military interventions complex and necessitating substantial munition reserves for effective response.

Increasing Tensions in the Middle East

Tensions have escalated following the recent increase in attacks by Islamic terrorist groups, including nearly 3,000 attacks led by Hezbollah. This surge is partly a response to Israel’s actions following an assault by Hamas in 2023.

Diplomatic and Defense Considerations

The U.S. State Department maintains a diplomatic stance, hoping to avoid an all-out war. However, experts like Richard Goldberg from FDD warn that conflict might be “inevitable” given the scale and readiness of Hezbollah’s missile stockpile aimed at Israel.

Security Expert’s Warning

“No democracy can live with that kind of threat on its border,” Goldberg cautions, underlining the urgency for effective counter-strategies against such wide-reaching threats.

This story was first published on foxnews.com.