(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had to urgently bring out from retirement a high-altitude surveillance balloons for airspace monitoring tasks in the northern part of the country, a day after its military base in Meron, situated atop Mount Hermon, sustained severe damage from rockets and missiles fired by Hezbollah fighters.
The last deployment of Israel’s high-altitude surveillance balloon, known as “Sky Dew,” took place in 2022, serving the purpose of tracking drones, guided missiles, and aircraft in the northern region.
The swift redeployment of “Sky Dew” after a year of inactivity underscores the substantial impact on Israel’s monitoring and reconnaissance capabilities in the northern part of the country following the attack on the Meron military base.
Located just 8 km from the Lebanese border, the Meron military base, targeted with at least 62 rockets by Hezbollah, functions as a central hub for monitoring and managing airspace in Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, and parts of the Mediterranean Sea.
The loss of this base significantly affects Israel’s overall military operations in Lebanon and Syria.
Despite the severity of the attack on the Meron base, Israeli media outlets have refrained from providing detailed comments on Hezbollah’s assault.
Additionally, the Meron military base, positioned at the highest point in northern occupied Palestine, serves as a crucial center for Israel’s electronic warfare capabilities against neighboring countries, operated by elite Israeli officers and soldiers.
A report from a Texas-based research group several months ago highlighted difficulties in tracking the locations of civilian aircraft in the region, particularly in southern Lebanon and the northern occupied Palestinian territories.
Further investigation by the research group identified the Meron military base as the source of disruptions to the Global Positioning System (GPS), making it challenging to track civilian flight locations.
Hezbollah’s targeting of the Meron military base holds strategic importance, as it hampers and restricts Israel’s ability to conduct military operations in Lebanon and neighboring countries.
In yesterday’s incident, Hezbollah launched over 60 rockets and missiles at the Meron military base atop Mount Hermon in northern Palestine, one of Israel’s most vital military bases.
The Meron military base is regarded by observers as one of the key military installations for the IDF, with top military leaders frequently present to oversee operations.
The rocket attack on this critical Israeli military facility began at 8 a.m. local time and lasted for several hours.
Observers categorize Hezbollah’s rocket attack on the Meron military base as a “serious” blow to the overall capabilities of the Israeli military, marking an escalation in the armed conflict between the two parties.
According to a statement by Hezbollah, the Meron military base in northern occupied Palestine, controlled by Israel, is situated at the summit of Mount Hermon, the highest peak in Palestine, approximately 1,200 meters above sea level.
Operated by the 11th Battalion of the Israeli Air Force’s 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment, the Meron military base is described as the sole center for air traffic management, monitoring, and control in the northern region, with no alternative available to the Israeli military.
It is one of two military bases overseeing and controlling air operations in Syria and Lebanon, with the other being the Mitzpe Ramon base located in the southern part of the country.
Hezbollah attributes the rocket attack on the Meron military base as part of its response to Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri and his commander in Beirut a few days ago. — DSA
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