(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — For the first time in the conflict, Hezbollah fighters have launched large-caliber Falaq-2 rockets at the Israeli military headquarters in Beit Hillel, northern Israel, causing significant destruction to the facility.
This move comes as a retaliation to a massive Israeli airstrike campaign targeting the Lebanese cities of Markaba and Aitaroun.
The militant group claims that Israel has crossed several “red lines,” necessitating an escalated response.
Analysts indicate that Hezbollah’s use of the substantial Falaq-2 rockets against Israeli military positions marks a significant escalation in the group’s opposition to Tel Aviv.
The Falaq-2 rockets, equipped with a 120kg warhead, have a range of 11km.
One of the primary advantages of the Falaq-2 rocket is its highly maneuverable launcher, which can rapidly deploy rockets and maintain good mobility, even in challenging environments.
Security sources told international news agency Reuters that this was the first instance of Hezbollah using Falaq-2 rockets against Israeli forces, following previous uses of Falaq-1 rockets.
The Falaq-2 is the second generation in the Falaq rocket family, developed in the 1990s by Shahid Bagheri Industries, part of Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organisation (AIO), and has undergone several upgrades to enhance its performance.
These 333mm caliber rockets are also used by the Iranian military and have been exported to Iran-supported militant groups across the Middle East.
They have been employed in conflicts in Yemen, Syria, and now Lebanon.
In addition to the large-caliber Falaq-2, Hezbollah fighters have increasingly employed the short-range “Burkan” rocket, feared for its explosive payload ranging from 400kg to 500kg or more, capable of causing substantial destruction.
According to analysts, the “Burkan” rocket, developed during the conflict in Syria, can strike targets up to 10km away and is believed to have been modified to carry more explosives and travel further distances.
Designed for close-range warfare, the “Burkan” rocket is suitable for attacking densely populated areas and military positions.
Hezbollah reportedly uses the “Burkan” rocket for two main purposes: bombing Israeli military bases near the Israel-Lebanon border, and targeting military positions within densely populated areas along the border.
“Many Israelis in the north have heard of Hezbollah’s ‘Burkan’ rocket and have witnessed firsthand the size of the explosions it produces,” according to Israeli media. – DSA