Satellite Imagery Reveals 88 Israeli Tanks Wrecked by Gaza Anti-Tank Fire
As per international defense media reports, this statistic of losses attained by Israeli armored vehicles signifies a significant development, accounting for 23 percent of the 383 tracked Israeli military armored vehicles currently deployed in operations within the northern Gaza Strip.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — In the northern Gaza Strip, satellite imagery reveals a significant blow to the Israeli military, with reports indicating that around 88 armored vehicles and main battle tanks have been rendered inoperable or extensively damaged.
The cause of this destruction is attributed to targeted anti-tank weapon fire by small units of Palestinian fighters.
As per international defense media reports, this statistic signifies a significant development, accounting for 23 percent of the 383 tracked Israeli military armored vehicles currently deployed in operations within the northern Gaza Strip.
Despite this, the strength of the Israeli army’s armored forces cannot be denied, as they successfully achieved their objectives in the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, dividing the region into northern and southern parts.
However, the success of the Al-Qassam Brigades in destroying and causing severe damage to the Merkava main battle tanks and armored vehicles used by the Israeli army has been acknowledged by international defense observers.
The Israeli army has historically employed its armored units to initiate attacks.
Reports of the high destruction and damage suffered by Israeli military armored vehicles in the northern Gaza Strip align with reports of deaths and injuries to officers and members of the Israeli armored forces.
On November 10, Israeli media reported the death of Colonel Sheldag Zior, the commander of the Israeli army’s armored forces, in an operation in the Gaza Strip, making him the highest-ranking Israeli military officer killed so far.
Prior to that, Israeli media also reported the death of another senior officer, Lieutenant Colonel Salman Habaka, from the 188th Armored Brigade, in an operation in Gaza on November 2.
According to reports, Habaka, who was of Druze ethnicity, was killed in an ambush by Hamas fighters.
The primary weapons used by Palestinian fighters to attack Israeli military armored vehicles are the “Al-Yassin” 105mm Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG).
It is a self-developed anti-tank weapon based on the RPG-7VR anti-tank rocket. The “Al-Yassin” uses a Tandem Warhead, explosive material in two phases designed to defeat the Composite Armor and Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) covering the Israeli Merkava armored vehicles.
The first explosion is from a 64mm explosive before the second, larger 105mm explosion tears through the main armor of the armored vehicle.
Reports state that the “Al-Yassin” 105mm grenade launcher owned by Palestinian fighters can penetrate armor thicknesses of up to 700-750mm on military armored vehicles.
The effective range of the Palestinian fighters’ anti-tank weapons is 500 meters, but it is most effective at 150 meters from its target.
Additionally, the “Al-Yassin” grenade launcher also has a Thermobaric Anti-Bunker variant designed to penetrate fortified defense positions and is now used by Palestinian fighters facing the Israeli army. — DSA
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