Missiles and Rockets of Hezbollah

Hezbollah (“Party of God”) is a Lebanese political party and militant group with close ties to Iran and Syria’s Assad regime. It is frequently identified as an Iranian proxy, as the Party supports Tehran’s regional ambitions in exchange for military, financial, and political support.¹

Hezbollah is the world’s most heavily armed non-state actor, and has been described as “a militia trained like an army and equipped like a state.”²

This is especially true with regard to its missile and rocket forces, which Hezbollah has in vast quantities arrayed against Israel.

Hezbollah’s arsenal is comprised mostly of small, man-portable and unguided surface-to-surface artillery rockets. Although these devices lack precision, their sheer number make them effective weapons of terror. According to Israeli sources, Hezbollah held around 15,000 rockets and missiles on the eve of the 2006 Lebanon War, firing nearly 4,000 at Israel over the 34-day conflict. Hezbollah has since expanded its rocket arsenal, today estimated at 130,000.³

In May 2006, Hezbollah’s Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah explained that “The purpose of our rockets is to deter Israel from attacking Lebanese civilians…The enemy fears that every time he confronts us, whenever there are victims in our ranks among Lebanese civilians, this will lead to a counter-barrage of our rockets, which he fears.”⁴

Indiscriminate rocket fire, particularly from small, easily transportable launchers makes the suppression of fires with airpower more challenging. This forces Israel to rely more heavily on ground forces in a conflict. Lacking any air force of its own, Hezbollah prefers ground wars in its own territory to bombardment from the skies. As Human Rights Watch notes, however, these arguments do not justify civilian targeting and casualties under international law.⁵

The continued growth of Hezbollah’s missile and rocket forces is undesirable for several reasons. It may, for example, embolden the party to overstep Israeli red lines. Hezbollah’s push to acquire longer-ranged and precision-guided munitions could likewise spur Israel into preemptive action. Hezbollah’s weapons acquisition also raises the prospects for the proliferation of missile technology and know-how. According to Saudi and UAE officials, Hezbollah militants have worked with their Houthi forces in rocket development and launch divisions.⁶ Hezbollah forces in Syria and Iraq similarly operate with various Shiite militias. Growing relations among these groups presents risks for the dissemination of missile technology and knowledge.

Note: This is not a definitive list of Hezbollah’s rocket arsenal, and the profiles below rely solely on open-source material.

Land Attack Missiles and Rockets

107 & 122 mm ‘Katyusha’ Rockets

The name “Katyusha” (Russian translation: “Little Katy”) was originally used by Soviet soldiers during World War II to refer to 82 mm and 132 mm rockets used by USSR forces. Today, however, reporters and analysts alike use the term for most of Hezbollah’s unguided artillery rockets fired from or designed for multiple rocket launchers (MRLs).⁷

Hezbollah operates several Katyusha models, which are typically distinguished by their range (4-40 km), warhead (10-20 kg, high explosive (HE) or submunitions), and launch weight (45-75kg).⁸ The 122 mm 9M22 Grad-type is one of the more popular Katyusha variants today. It was originally fitted for the Soviet BM-21 MRL, and has a range of approximately 20 km while carrying 6 kg of HE or submunitions, both dispersing anti-personnel fragments. The rocket may be fired through simple tripod launchers or from truck-based MRLs, and is accurate within a 336 m x 160 m space.⁹

Katyushas make up the majority of Hezbollah’s rocket force, and was the Party’s weapon of choice in the 2006 Lebanon War.¹⁰ According to a 2006 report, Hezbollah was estimated to hold between 7,000-8,000 107 mm and 122 mm Katyusha rockets, although this number has increased since.¹¹ Iran serves as Hezbollah’s primary Katyusha supplier and starting in 2001, has also transferred several truck-mounted, multi-barrel rocket launchers (MRBL). These assets enable Hezbollah to fire salvos of Katyushas into Israel, although the Party largely continues to carry out attacks single shot attacks to maximize media attention.¹² Nevertheless, whether launched individually or in salvos, Katyushas proved difficult to intercept prior to Israel’s deployment of Iron Dome in March 2011. The rockets’ short flight time and low flight trajectory made it difficult and cost ineffective for higher-tier missile defenses like Patriot to intercept.¹³

Fajr-1 / Chinese 107 mm Rockets

China developed 107 mm artillery rockets in the 1960s for its Type-63 multiple rocket launcher (MRL). China sold the 107 mm rockets to Syria and a reported 500-700 units to Iran. Iran subsequently developed indigenous copies of the rocket (renaming it Fajr-1) and the MRL (renaming it Haseb). Iran is reported to have supplied Hezbollah with approximately 144 Haseb-type launchers and an unknown number of accompanying rockets.¹⁴

These rockets have a range of 8-10 km and employ an 8 kg high explosive (HE) fragmentation warhead. Different models vary between 0.841 m to 0.92 m in length and weigh nearly 19 kg. The rockets may be manually ground-launched or fired through the Haseb-type launchers acquired from Iran. The Haseb MRL holds 12 rounds (three rows of four cells) and weighs about 613 kg.¹⁵

Falaq 1/2

Falaq is a family of unguided surface-to-surface artillery rockets developed by Iran in the 1990s. They are sometimes identified as Falagh.

The Falaq-1 has a range of 10-11 km while carrying a 50 kg high explosive (HE) warhead. The rocket has a length of 1.32 m, a body diameter of 240 mm, and a total launch weight of 111 kg. A man-portable variant exists.¹⁶

The Falaq-2 also has a range of 10-11 km, but carries a 120 kg HE warhead. The rocket has a length of 1.82 m, a body diameter of 333 mm, and a launch weight of 255 kg. It has a fragmentation radius of around 300 m.¹⁷

The Falaq-1 and -2 are solid-fueled, spin-stabilized, and can be launched from trucks or boats.¹⁸

On August 25, 2005, Hezbollah reportedly fired a Falaq-1 into Israel by accident. Hezbollah subsequently launched several Falaq rockets against Israel during the 2006 Second Lebanon War.¹⁹

333 mm Shahin-1

122 mm Type-81 Rocket

These Chinese cluster munition rockets are often subsumed under the Katyusha umbrella. It is not known how Hezbollah obtained them, but the Party fired approximately 118 Type-81 rockets during the 2006 Lebanon War. Hezbollah’s deployment of the 122 mm Type-81 was the first confirmed use of this weapon.²¹

Hezbollah’s Type-81 rocket is an enhanced-range 122 mm rocket and thus may fall under the broader Katyusha designation. It has a range of 20.5 km while fitted with a high explosive (HE) warhead, reportedly carrying 39 MZD-2 or Type-90 submunitions. The standard 122 mm rocket is 1.927 m long and weighs 45.3 kg. ²²

Fajr-3 and Fajr-5

The Fajr is a family of Iranian-designed, unguided surface-to-surface artillery rockets developed in the 1990s. One Israel Defense Forces (IDF) figure reported in 2011 estimated Hezbollah held a stockpile of several hundred of these projectiles. Iranian Air Force officers have furthermore made repeated trips to Lebanon to train Hezbollah fighters to aim and fire these more sophisticated missile systems.²³

The Fajr-3 has a range of 43 km while carrying a 45 kg high explosive (HE) warhead. The rocket has a length of 5.2 m, a body diameter of 240 mm, and a launch weight of 407 kg.²⁴ Fajr-3 launchers used in 2006 carried up to 14 rockets each.²⁵

The Fajr-5 has a range of 75 km while carrying a 90 kg high explosive (HE) warhead. The rocket has a length of 6.485 m, a body diameter of 333 mm, and a launch weight of 915 kg. The mobile Fajr-5 launchers used in 2006 carried up to four rockets each.²⁶

Israeli intelligence learned that Fajr rockets had been distributed among core Hezbollah activists in the early 2000s.²⁷ Hezbollah fighters fired a Fajr-5 rocket for the first time during the 2006 Lebanon War. The projectile struck the Northern Israeli town of Rosh Pina, but did not result in any casualties. Analysts also believe Hezbollah used Fajr-3/-5 missiles to strike Israel’s northern port city of Haifa.²⁸

Raad-2 and Raad-3 / 220 mm Uragan-type Rockets

The Soviet Union designed these artillery rockets in the 1970s for its BM-27 ‘Uragan’ multiple rocket launcher (MRL). Renamed by Hezbollah as the Raad-2 and Raad-3, these rockets have a range of 60-70 km with a 50 kg high explosive (HE) warhead, which is filled with 6 mm anti-personnel steel balls. The rockets are measure approximately 4.8 m in length and 280 kg in weight.²⁹

The Soviet Union sold Uragan rockets and launcher systems to Syria, which then transferred a number of these rockets to Hezbollah in the early 2000s. Hezbollah’s launchers differ from the standard Soviet design, as one analysis explains: “[O]nly one layer of four tubes rather than the standard three layers, two with six tubes and one with four.”³⁰ Hezbollah likely made this change to accommodate a lighter launch vehicle.
Hezbollah successfully fired a Raad rocket into Israel for the first time on July 16, 2006 – four days into the Second Lebanon War. Until then it had relied on regular and enhanced-range 122 mm rockets.³¹

302 mm Khaibar-1 / M-302 / B-302

The Khaibar-1 rocket is an unguided artillery rocket, developed and manufactured by Syria. Reports suggest the Khaibar-1 is based heavily on the Chinese Wei Shi (WS-1) MRL system. The rocket is named after the 629 CE Battle of Khaibar, fought between early Muslims and resident Jews.³²

The Khaibar-1 has a range of 100 km while carrying a 150 kg payload. It is typically equipped with large, anti-personnel warheads. The rocket has a length of 6.3 m, a body diameter of 0.302 m, and a launch weight of approximately 750 kg.³³ The launcher features two layers of three firing tubes each.³⁴ The Khaibar-1 is unguided but more accurate than most indigenous Hezbollah/Hamas rockets, and can be stored more easily due to increased durability. However, the rocket does not spin like the Fajr-5, and is therefore likely less accurate.³⁵

The Khaibar-1 was first fired by Hezbollah on July 28, 2006, striking the city of Afula. Subsequent targets included Haifa, Hadera, and areas in the northern West Bank.

Zelzal-1 and Zelzal-2

The Zelzal is an Iranian variant of the Soviet FROG 7 artillery ballistic missile. It has a substantially higher range and payload than Hezbollah’s Katyusha and Fajr rockets, providing the group with the capability to target deep within Israel.³⁶

The Zelzal-1 has a range of 125-160 km while carrying a 600 kg high explosive (HE) warhead. It has a length of 8.325 m, a body diameter of 610 mm, and a launch weight of 2,950 kg.³⁷

The Zelzal-2 has a range of 210 km while carrying a 600 kg HE warhead. The solid-fuel rocket shares the same length and diameter as its predecessor, but has an increased launch weight of 3,400 kg. It is also spin-stabilized.³⁸

Iran reportedly began delivering the Zelzal-1 and -2 rockets through Syria to Hezbollah in the early 2000s. Iran used transport planes to carry sophisticated missiles – including the Zelzal – into Syria, which were then smuggled to Hezbollah.³⁹ Zelzal rockets are fairly inaccurate, and require a large transporter-erector launcher (TEL) vehicle with a large target signature.⁴⁰

Israeli officials say the rocket’s considerable payload makes it a serious threat.⁴¹ One 2006 report found that Hezbollah likely held “a few dozen” Zelzal rockets, while another cited as many as 200.⁴²

Updated numbers are unclear. Hezbollah’s Zelzals went unused during the 2006 war, likely due to Iranian influence (seeking to prevent further escalation), Israeli airpower (which could easily strike larger targets like Zelzals), or some combination of the two.⁴³

Fateh-110 / M-600

The Fateh-110 is an Iranian short-range, road-mobile ballistic missile. It is most likely a modified version of the unguided Zelzal-2, with the addition of control and guidance systems. The M-600, or “Tishreen,” is a Syrian variant/copy of the Fateh-110 missile.

The Fateh-110 and M-600 have ranges of 250-300 km, making them among the longest-ranged weapons in Hezbollah’s inventory. Both missiles carry a 450-500 kg high explosive (HE) warhead and are GPS-guided, providing them with a CEP of 500 m. They are nearly 9 m in length and weigh approximately 3,450 kg at launch.⁴⁴

In 2010, Israeli reports claimed that Syria had transferred a number of M-600 missiles to Hezbollah.⁴⁵

Iran reportedly supplied Fateh-110s to Hezbollah around November 2014.⁴⁶

Hezbollah is believed to hold hundreds of these missiles, with initial Fateh-110 transfers dating back to 2007 and M-600 transfers to 2010.⁴⁷

Scud-B/C/D

Unconfirmed reports indicate that Syria transferred an unknown number of Scud missiles (B, C, and/or D variants) to Hezbollah. These reports emerged in late 2009, and again in April 2010 when then-Israeli President Shimon Peres directly accused Syria of transferring Scuds to Hezbollah. Neither Israel nor the United States, however, have provided any evidence that Hezbollah is or ever has been in possession of Scuds.⁴⁸ Reports also conflict on whether Hezbollah is capable of firing Scuds without foreign assistance. Additionally, Scuds are usually seen as impractical weapons for Hezbollah in its war doctrine. As one analyst explains, “Scuds are very bulky to transport and difficult to hide and manipulate, requiring 45 minutes of preparation. They do not provide Hezbollah much advantage compared to the Fateh-110…”⁴⁹

Scuds variants have ranges between 300-550 km while carrying a 600-985 kg payload. Standard versions measure 10.3-12.29 m in length, with a body diameter of 0.88 m and launch weight of around 5,400-6,500.⁵⁰ If Hezbollah does indeed have Scuds, it could use them to reach Israeli targets from Party-controlled territory in northern Lebanon.

Antiship Missiles (ASMs)

C-802 / Yingji-2 / Noor

The C-802 is a medium-range antiship cruise missile (ASCM) developed by China in the 1970s-1980s. Iran began buying dozens from the Chinese during the 1990s until the United States pressured Beijing to cease sales.⁵¹

Iran then developed its own variant, the “Noor”, and transferred it to Hezbollah.⁵²

Hezbollah’s C-802s are likely maintained and operated by Iranian military personnel.

The C-802 has a range of 120 km while carrying a 165 kg warhead. It has a length of 6.39 m, a body diameter of 360 mm, and a launch weight of 715-800 kg. The missile is turbo-jet powered, high-speed subsonic, and sea-skimming capable.⁵³

On July 14, 2006, Hezbollah fired two C-802s at the Israeli Saar-class corvette Hanit, which was enforcing a blockade along the Lebanese coast. One of the missiles successfully hit the vessel, killing four Israeli sailors.⁵⁴

Until the strike, no one – including Western intelligence services – knew that Iran had managed to ship C-802 missiles to Hezbollah. It is unclear how many C-802 ASCMs Hezbollah currently holds.⁵⁵

Yakhont

The Yakhont is an antiship cruise missile (ASCM) developed by Russia in the 1990s. It can be air-, ground- or sub-launched.

The Yakhont has a range of 300 km while carrying either a 200 kg high explosive (HE) or 250 kg semi-armor piercing (SAP) warhead. It measures 8.6 m in length, with a body diameter of 670 mm and a launch weight of 3,000 kg. It is supersonic, capable of sea-skimming flight, and employs inertial navigation-based guidance.⁵⁶

Russia delivered 72 Yakhont coastal defense missiles to Syria in December 2011, along with 18 TEL vehicles. Additional shipments of more advanced, radar-equipped variants followed in May 2013.⁵⁷

Syria transferred a number of these systems to Hezbollah. As of January 2016, the United States estimates that Hezbollah possesses up to 12 Yakhont ASCMs.⁵⁸

However, reports suggest that Hezbollah does not have the means to launch the missile without Iranian and/or Syrian support.⁵⁹ Israel considers the Yakhont one of the main threats it faces from Hezbollah, as the missile threatens shipping along Israel’s entire coastline and could complicate any potential blockade of Lebanon.

Antitank Missiles (ATMs)

According to Israeli tank commanders at the front of the 2006 War, Hezbollah’s anti-tank missiles damaged or destroyed Israeli vehicles on about 20% of their hits.⁶⁰ The party successfully struck nearly 50 Israeli Merkava tanks during the conflict, penetrating the armor of 21. Hezbollah used ATGMs against buildings and Israeli troop bunkers as well. As Anthony Cordesman writes, “More [Israeli] infantry soldiers were killed by anti-tank weapons than in hand-to-hand combat.”⁶¹ While fighting ISIS in Syria and Iraq, Hezbollah has effectively used ATMs to counter suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devises (SVBIED) launched by the extremist group.⁶²

RPG-29 Vampir

The RPG-29 is an unguided rocket-propelled grenade launcher (RPG) developed by the Soviet Union in the 1980s. It was designed to give mobile infantry units the ability to penetrate and destroy enemy tanks. The RPG-29 has an effective range of 450-500 meters while carrying a 4.5 kg anti-tank or anti-personnel grenade.⁶³ The 105.2 mm rocket is equipped with a tandem-shaped warhead, which was designed to counter reactive armor like that used on many Israeli vehicles. Some versions are also equipped with thermal-imaging capability for night warfare and tracking heat signatures.⁶⁴

Russia sold the RPG-29 to Syria between 1990-1999, which in turn provided the system to Hezbollah in the early 2000s.⁶⁵ Hezbollah first used the RPG-29 in November 2005 when the party launched an unsuccessful kidnapping attempt on the IDF position at Ghajar.⁶⁶

Israeli officials claim that the RPG-29 was a leading cause of IDF casualties during the 2006 Lebanon War, penetrating Merkava tank armor on multiple occasions.⁶⁷

9M14 Malyutka (NATO: AT-3 Sagger)

AT-3 — Photo: Israel Defense Forces (Flickr)

The AT-3 Sagger is a manual command to line of sight (MCLOS) wire-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) developed by the Soviet Union in in the early 1960s. It has an effective range of up to 3 km while carrying a 2.6 or 3.5 kg warhead. The Iranian variant, known as ‘Raad,’ carries a double tandem-type warhead, which was designed to counter reactive armor like that used on many Israeli vehicles. It can penetrate armor of up to 400 mm thick.⁶⁸

Hezbollah is estimated to hold hundreds of Iran- and Syria-supplied AT-3s.⁶⁹

Following training provided by Iran and Syria, Hezbollah used the AT-3 against Israeli forces during the 2006 Lebanon War to high effect. When Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon, it left behind about 40 armored vehicles – most destroyed by AT-3s. Hezbollah also used the AT-3 “like artillery” to hit houses and other soft targets holding IDF soldiers.⁷⁰

9K111 Fagot (NATO: AT-4 Spigot)

9M113 Konkurs (NATO: AT-5 Spandrel)

The AT-5 Spandrel is a semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) wire-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) developed by the Soviet Union in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The AT-5 has an effective range of 4 km and armor penetration of more than 750 mm.⁷³

An Israeli report suggests that Iran provided Hezbollah with domestic copies of the AT-5.

9K115-2 Metis-M (NATO: AT-13 Saxhorn-2)

The AT-13 Saxhorn-2 is a wire-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) developed by Russia in the early 1990s. It has an effective range of 1.5 km, and can fire up to four rounds a minute. The rocket is equipped with a tandem-shaped warhead, which was designed to counter reactive armor like that used on many Israeli vehicles. It can penetrate armor up to 460 mm thick.⁷⁴

Russia sold the AT-13 to Syria, which then provided the weapons to Hezbollah in the early 2000s. Hezbollah is estimated to hold hundreds of AT-13s.⁷⁵

9M133 Kornet-E (NATO: AT-14 Spriggan)

The AT-14 Kornet is a laser-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) developed by Russia in the 1990s. It is likely Hezbollah’s longest-range ATGM, with an effective range of about 5 km while carrying an anti-armor or bunker-busting thermobaric warhead. It can penetrate armor up to 1200 mm thick. The third-generation system also has thermal-imaging capability for night warfare and tracking heat signatures.⁷⁶

Russia sold the AT-14 to Syria between 1990-1999, which in turn provided hundreds to Hezbollah soon thereafter.⁷⁷ Hezbollah had the AT-14 during the 2006 Lebanon War, but only used it in limited numbers, likely waiting for Israeli forces to move farther into southern Lebanon and extend their supply lines. The AT-14 was demonstrably effective against Israeli Merkava tanks.⁷⁸ Israeli analysts worry that Russia-Hezbollah cooperation in Syria may result in the Party receiving more AT-14s.⁷⁹

Antiair Missiles (AAMs)

Most of Hezbollah’s antiair missile systems offer only a relatively small area of protection. They nevertheless force Israeli aircraft to fly at higher altitudes, reducing Israel’s ability to accurately strike ground-based targets.⁸⁰

Israeli policymakers and military officers have consistently reiterated their concerns about Hezbollah acquiring more sophisticated air defenses from Bashar al-Assad’s Syria.

Misagh-1/2

The Misagh-1 is a second-generation, man-portable anti-air missile (MANPAD) developed by Iran in 1994. Iran subsequently developed the fourth-generation Misagh-2 in the early 2000s. These missiles are reportedly copies of the Chinese Qian Wei rockets (QW-1/-1M/2 ‘Vanguard’).⁸¹

The Misagh-1 can engage targets between a 0.5 to 5 km range, at altitudes between 0.3 and 4 km. It employs a 1.42 kg high explosive (HE)-fragmentation warhead. The rocket has a length of 1.477 m, a body diameter of 71 mm, and a launch weight of 10.86 kg. The total weight of the system is 16.9 kg.⁸²

The Misagh-2 has an effective range of 5-6 km at a maximum altitude of 2.5 (for fighters) or 3.5 km (for helicopters). Weighing 12.74 kg at launch, the rocket carries a 1.42 kg HE warhead and employs an infrared seeker for guidance.⁸³

An improved variant known as the QW-1M has also proliferated in the region and is believed to be in Hezbollah’s possession. According to one small arms analyst, this version is “more sophisticated than the first generation of SA-7s”.⁸⁴

ZU-23

The ZU-23 is a stationary unit with twin 23 mm anti-aircraft guns developed by the Soviet Union in the 1950s. It was designed to engage low-flying targets at a range of 2.5 km and a maximum altitude of 1.5 to 2 km. It can also target armored vehicles up to a 2 km range. The ZU-23 has a length of 4.57 m, a width of 1.83 m, a height of 1.87 m, and a barrel length of 2.01 m.⁸⁵ Hezbollah air defense units reportedly station ZU-23 assets on flatbed trucks to add mobility.⁸⁶ ZU stands for “Zenitnaya Ustanovka,” which translates to “anti-aircraft self-propelled system.” The missile is is alternatively known as the ‘2A14 ZU-23-2’ and ‘Sergey’.

9K32 Strela-2 (NATO: SA-7 Grail)

The SA-7 is a man-portable anti-air missile (MANPAD) developed by the Soviet Union in the 1960s. It is the first generation of Russian MANPADS. The SA-7 can engage targets between 0.8 to 3.4 km away, at a maximum altitude of 1.5-2.3 km. Its 9K32 interceptor employs a 1.17 kg high explosive (HE)-fragmentation warhead and infrared guidance. The rocket has a length of 1.438 m, a body diameter of 0.72 m, and a launch weight of 9.15 kg.⁸⁷ Several sources confirm that Hezbollah has SA-7s, which were supplied by Syria and Iran.⁸⁸

9K33 Osa (NATO: SA-8 Gecko)

The SA-8 is a tactical air defense system developed by the Soviet Union in 1972, and modified several times since. Its launcher holds multiple missile types, each able to engage targets between 1.5 and 10 km at a maximum altitude of 5 km.⁸⁹

Russia provided Syria over 2,000 SA-8 interceptors between 1979 and 1988.⁹⁰ It is likely that Hezbollah obtained the system from Syria thereafter. Israeli military officials reported that Hezbollah had first received the SA-8 in January 2012.⁹¹ In October 2013, Israeli airstrikes targeted shipments of SA-8 missiles en route to Hezbollah.⁹²

9K34 Strela-3 (NATO: SA-14 Gremlin)

The SA-14 is a man-portable anti-air missile (MANPAD) developed by the Soviet Union in the 1960 and 1970s. It was largely based on the earlier Strela-2 and -2M. The SA-14 can engage targets between 0.5 and 4.5 km at a maximum altitude of 1.5 to 3 km. It employs a 1.15 kg high explosive (HE)-blast fragmentation warhead and infrared guidance. The rocket measures 1.42 m in length, with a body diameter of 72 mm, and a launch weight of 10.3 kg.⁹³ Unconfirmed reports suggest that Hezbollah has dozens of SA-14s, likely supplied by Iran.⁹⁴

9K310 Igla-1 (NATO: SA-16 Gimlet) and 9K38 Igla (NATO: SA-18 Grouse)

9K40 Buk-M2 (NATO: SA-17 Grizzly)

The SA-17 is a medium-range air defense system developed by Russia in the early 1990s. It holds four ready-to-launch missiles, which can engage targets at a 50 km range at an altitude of 10 to 24 km.⁹⁶ The SA-17 is designed to protect ground troops and can be moved by a collection of vehicles and trailers, making it difficult to target.

Russia sold a battery of SA-17s to Syria in 2007 after Israel conducted an airstrike on an unfinished Syrian nuclear reactor.⁹⁷ Moscow again provided Damascus SA-17s in 2015, leading analysts to conclude that Syria was the most likely source of Hezbollah’s current inventory. In January 2013, Israeli airstrikes targeted a convoy of SA-17 missiles en route from Syria to Lebanon. Israeli fighters are also believed to have carried out several strikes against SA-17 convoys in late 2015.⁹⁸ Israel considers the SA-17 one of the most significant threats it faces from Hezbollah.⁹⁹

Pantsyr-S1 (NATO: SA-22 Greyhound)

The SA-22 is a short- to medium-range air defense system developed by Russia in the 1990s to replace the older SA-19 Grison. The SA-22 was designed as a point defense weapon, with its 12 57E6 or 9M335 interceptors capable of engaging targets at ranges between 1.2 and 20 km, at a maximum altitude of up to 15 km. Both missile types are 3.2 m in length and employ a 20 kg high explosive (HE)-fragmentation warhead. The vehicle also carries a radar and two 30 mm anti-aircraft cannons.¹⁰⁰

Iran or Syria likely supplied Hezbollah with the system. Russia sold Syria 850 Pantsyr-S1E units in 2008 and 36 units of the Pantsyr-S1E in 2009. Russia also sold Iran 10 units of the Pantsyr-S1 at an unknown time. At a United Nations meeting in 2015, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of transferring SA-22s to Hezbollah; however, Israel did not substantiate these claims.¹⁰¹

Footnotes

J. Michael Cole, “Opening Pandora’s Box: If Israel Strikes Iran, What About Hezbollah?” The Diplomat, October 13, 2012, https://thediplomat.com/2012/10/opening-pandoras-box-hezbollah-in-israels-iran-thinking/.
Steven Erlanger and Richard A. Oppel Jr., “A Disciplined Hezbollah Surprises Israel With Its Training, Tactics and Weapons,” New York Times, August 7, 2006, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/07/world/middleeast/07hezbollah.html?pagewanted=all.
Center for Preventive Action, “Israel and Hezbollah: Deterrence and the Threat of Miscalculation,” Council on Foreign Relations, September 11, 2017, https://www.cfr.org/report/israel-and-hezbollah-deterrence-and-threat-miscalculation; International Crisis Group, “Israel, Hizbollah and Iran: Preventing Another War in Syria,” February 8, 2018, https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/eastern-mediterranean/syria/182-israel-hizbollah-and-iran-preventing-another-war-syria.
Udi Dekel et al., The Quiet Decade: In the Aftermath of the Second Lebanon War, 2006-2016,” Institute for National Security Studies, July 2017, 120, http://www.inss.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/memo167_6.pdf.
Eric Goldstein and Bonnie Docherty, “Civilians under Assault: Hezbollah’s Rocket Attacks on Israel in the 2006 War,” Human Rights Watch, August 28, 2007, https://www.hrw.org/report/2007/08/28/civilians-under-assault/hezbollahs-rocket-attacks-israel-2006-war.
Ellen Francis and Laila Bassam, “Lebanon’s Hezbollah denies sending weapons to Yemen,” Reuters, November 20, 2017, https://https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-nasrallah/lebanons-hezbollah-denies-sending-weapons-to-yemen-idUSKBN1DK22D.
Ibid.
Human Rights Watch, “Q & A: 122mm Cluster Munition Rockets,” October 19, 2006, https://www.hrw.org/news/2006/10/19/q-122mm-cluster-munition-rockets; William M. Arkin, Divining Victory: Airpower in the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War, (Maxwell Air Force Base: Air University Press, 2011), 56, https://books.google.com/books?id=Q-NiAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA35&lpg=PA35&dq=Hezbollah+Fajr-5&source=bl&ots=pYWo8nRcZZ&sig=zQnmVCQ58vnDJ5TU0x0SnytQ6Ag&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiIl6CM7KzXAhWr6IMKHVW_Aco4ChDoAQhRMAc#v=onepage&q=Hezbollah%20Fajr-5&f=false.
Human Rights Watch, “Q & A: 122mm Cluster Munition Rockets”; Israel Missile Defense Association, “Grad Katyusha,” June 13, 2007, http://imda.org.il/english/Threats/threats_missile.asp?missileid=10.
David Schapiro and Katherine Zimmerman, “Estimates for Hezbollah’s Arsenal,” AEI Critical Threats June 29, 2010, https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/estimates-for-hezbollahs-arsenal#_ednaa371eb0fcd676f2aa5b2de7656fc4ed4.
Patrick Devenny, “Hezbollah’s Strategic Threat to Israel,” Middle East Forum, Winter 2006, http://www.meforum.org/806/hezbollahs-strategic-threat-to-israel.
BBC News, “Hezbollah’s rocket force,” July 18, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5187974.stm; Robert Wall et al., “Harsh Trajectories,” Aviation Week, August 7, 2006, http://archive.aviationweek.com/issue/20060807.
James Klatell, “Hezbollah’s Rocket Science,” CBS News, July 20, 2006, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hezbollahs-rocket-science/.
“NORINCO 107 mm (12-round) Type 63 and Type 81 multiple rocket systems,” in IHS Jane’s Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence 2012-2013, ed. Christopher Foss and James O’Halloran (United Kingdom: IHS, 2012), 274-276; Devenny, “Hezbollah’s Strategic Threat to Israel.”
Army Recognition, “Type 63 107 mm Multiple rocket launcher system,” April 4, 2011, https://www.armyrecognition.com/china_artillery_vehicles_and_weapon_systems_uk/type_63_107_mm_multiple_rocket_launcher_system_data_sheet_specifications_information_description_uk.html; Jane’s Artillery & Air Defence, 275.
N.R. Jenzen-Jones, Yuri Lyamin, and Galen Wright, “Iranian Falaq-1 and Falaq-2 Rockets in Syria,” Armament Research Services, May 2014, http://www.armamentresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ARES-Research-Report-No.-2-Iranian-Falaq-1-Falaq-2-Rockets-in-Syria.pdf.
Ibid.
Anthony Cordesman, “Iran’s Rocket and Missile Forces and Strategic Options,” CSIS, October 7, 2014, 54, https://csis-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/publication/141007_Iran_Rocket_Missile_forces.pdf.
Arkin, Divining Victory, 32.
Jane’s Artillery & Air Defence, 292-293.
Human Rights Watch, “Q & A: 122mm Cluster Munition Rockets.”
Jane’s Artillery & Air Defence, 273; Human Rights Watch, “Civilians under Assault.”
Yossi Melman, “Hezbollah Expected to Launch 100 Missiles a Day at Tel Aviv,” Haaretz, April 8, 2011, https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/haaretz-wikileaks-exclusive-hezbollah-expected-to-launch-100-missiles-a-day-at-tel-aviv-1.354826.
BBC, “Hezbollah’s rocket force”; Jane’s Artillery & Air Defence, 290.
Cordesman, 17.
BBC, “Hezbollah’s rocket force”; Jane’s Artillery, 288-290.
Benjamin Lambeth, “Air Operations in Israel’s War Against Hezbollah: Learning from Lebanon and Getting It Right in Gaza” (Rand Corporation: 2011), 94, https://books.google.com/books?id=IT4rB0V6fDQC&pg=PA92&lpg=PA92&dq=Zelzal+1&source=bl&ots=bkh-32_XZA&sig=wOolW9JUqnXtBVTcZBucvAKJAIc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjzsJX7jI_XAhWD0iYKHVFqDCU4ChDoAQhCMAU#v=onepage&q=Zelzal%201&f=false.
SBS News, “Rocket barrage hits Israel,” February 24, 2015, https://www.sbs.com.au/news/rocket-barrage-hits-israel.
Human Rights Watch, “Civilians under Assault”; Sergey V. Gurov, “BM-27 Uragan,” Military Today, http://www.military-today.com/artillery/bm27_uragan.htm.
Aviation Week, “High Trajectories.”
Human Rights Watch, “Civilians under Assault.”
Yuri Lyamin and N.R. Jenzen-Jones, “Assessment of the Khaibar-1 Rockets Captured by the IDF,” Armament Research Services, March 12, 2014, http://armamentresearch.com/assessment-of-the-khaibar-1-rockets-captured-by-the-idf/.
Stratfor, “Examining Hamas’ Rockets,” July 10, 2014, https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/examining-hamas-rockets#axzz367gaGV7K?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=official&utm_campaign=link.
Aviation Week, “High Trajectories.”
Gili Cohen, “Hamas Firing Long-range M-302 Rockets at Israel, Capable of 150-km Distance,” Haaretz, July 9, 2014, https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.603957.
Lambeth, Air Operations in Israel’s War Against Hezbollah, 92-93.
Ibid.
Jane’s Artillery & Air Defence, 290-291.
Nicholas Blanford, “Warriors of God: Inside Hezbollah’s Thirty-Year Struggle Against Israel,” (New York: Random House Publishing Group, October 2011), 338, https://books.google.com/books?id=lJWGvIcmODoC&pg=PA337&lpg=PA337&dq=Hezbollah+Uragan&source=bl&ots=zBUq1-aea2&sig=wa0aUucgc1JitWX4ZQtojH56mJA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiCyaGVg6DXAhWBx4MKHf9lCg4Q6AEITjAJ#v=onepage&q=Hezbollah%20Uragan&f=false.
Anthony Cordesman, “The Lessons of the Israeli-Lebanon War,” CSIS, March 11, 2018, slide 17, https://csis-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/media/csis/pubs/080311_lessonleb-iswar.pdf.
Aviation Week, “High Trajectories.”
Seymour Hersh, “Watching Lebanon,” The New Yorker, August 21, 2006, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/08/21/watching-lebanon; Mark W. Pontin, “The Missiles of August,” MIT Technology Review, August 16, 2006, https://www.technologyreview.com/s/406282/the-missiles-of-august/.
Arkin, Divining Victory, 57.
Missile Threat, “Fateh-110,” August 9, 2016, https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/fateh-110/
Jonathan Lis and Amos Harel, “Syria Gave Advanced M-600 Missiles to Hezbollah, Defense Officials Claim,” Haaretz, May 5, 2010, https://www.haaretz.com/news/syria-gave-advanced-m-600-missiles-to-hezbollah-defense-officials-claim-1.288356.
Tamir Eschel, “Iran: We supplied ballistic guided rockets to Hezbollah,” Defense Update, November 24, 2014, http://defense-update.com/20141124_fatah110.html#.VH47w8IcQdU.
AEI Critical Threats, “Estimates for Hezbollah’s Rocket Arsenal.”
Daniel Kurtzer, “A Third Lebanon War,” Council on Foreign Relations, July 2010, https://www.cfr.org/sites/default/files/pdf/2010/07/CPA_contingencymemo_8.pdf.
Mona Alami, “Hezbollah Rocket Inventories Worry Israel, U.S.,” Inter Press Service, May 2, 2010, http://www.globalissues.org/news/2010/05/02/5455.
Missile Threat, “SS-1 (Scud A/B/C/D),” last updated August 11, 2016, https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/scud/.
Mark Mazzetti and Thom Shanker, “Arming of Hezbollah Reveals U.S. and Israeli Blind Spots,” New York Times, July 19, 2006, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/19/world/middleeast/19missile.html.
Andrew McGregor, “Hezbollah’s Tactics and Capabilities in Southern Lebanon,” Jamestown Foundation, August 1, 2006, https://jamestown.org/program/hezbollahs-tactics-and-capabilities-in-southern-lebanon/.
“CSS-N-4 ‘Sardine’ (YJ-8/YJ-8A/C-801); CSS-N-8 ‘Saccade’ (YJ-82/YJ-83/C-802/C-802A/Noor/Ghader),” in IHS Jane’s Weapons: Naval 2016-2017, ed. David Ewing & Malcolm Fuller (United Kingdom: IHS, 2016), 3-7; Cordesman, “The Lessons of the Israeli-Lebanon War,” slide 48.
Uzi Rubin, “Hizballah’s Rocket Campaign Against Northern Israel: A Preliminary Report,” Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, August 31, 2006, http://jcpa.org/article/hizballahs-rocket-campaign-against-northern-israel-a-preliminary-report/.
NYT, “Arming of Hezbollah.”
Missile Threat, “SS-N-26 “Strobile” (P-800 Oniks)/ Yakhont / Yakhont-M / Bastion (launch systems),” last updated December 2, 2016, https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/ss-n-26/.
J. Dana Stuster, “Why Hezbollah’s New Missiles Are a Problem for Israel,” Foreign Policy, January 3, 2014, http://foreignpolicy.com/2014/01/03/why-hezbollahs-new-missiles-are-a-problem-for-israel/.
Darien Cavanaugh, “Russia is teaching Hezbollah some terrifying new tricks,” War is Boring, January 27, 2016, http://theweek.com/articles/601435/russia-teaching-hezbollah-some-terrifying-new-tricks.
Foreign Policy, “Why Hezbollah’s New Missiles Are a Problem for Israel.”
NYT, “A Disciplined Hezbollah.”
Cordesman, “The Lessons of the Israeli-Lebanon War,” slide 45.
Ben Hubbard, “Iran Out to Remake Mideast With Arab Enforcer: Hezbollah,” New York Times, August 27, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/27/world/middleeast/hezbollah-iran-syria-israel-lebanon.html?action=click&contentCollection=world&module=NextInCollection&region=Footer&pgtype=article&version=series&rref=collection%2Fseries%2Ftehran-turn&mtrref=undefined.
Cordesman, “The Lessons of the Israeli-Lebanon War,” slide 43.
Arkin, Divining Victory, 37; BBC, “Tough Lessons for Israeli armour.”
SIPRI, 411.
Arkin, Divining Victory, 38. One theory asserts that this operation was actually conducted by Hamas militants, trying to renew fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
AEI Critical Threats, “Assessing Hezbollah’s Rocket Arsenal.”
Arkin, Divining Victory, 37.
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, “Armaments, Disarmament and International Security,” (Oxford University Press, 2007), 410, https://books.google.com/books?id=Ys0bJwNfF_MC&pg=PA410&lpg=PA410&dq=Hezbollah+Uragan+rocket&source=bl&ots=uKNhB0u4uI&sig=qqrk5F4zG1s2UlDIRGTuggMA5GE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi6rNGlxaLXAhWJJiYKHZ_MAHUQ6AEIOjAD#v=onepage&q=Hezbollah%20Uragan%20rocket&f=false; AEI Critical Threats, “Estimates for Hezbollah’s Arsenal.”
NYT, “A Disciplined Hezbollah”; War is Boring, “Russia is teaching Hezbollah some terrifying new tricks.”
John Pike, “AT-4 SPIGOT Anti-Tank Guided Missile,” Federation of American Scientists, January 22, 1999, https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/at4spigot.htm.
SIPRI, 410.
Yuri Lyamin et al., “Introduction to the 9M113 Konkurs ATGM,” Armament Research Services, July 28, 2016, http://armamentresearch.com/introduction-to-the-9m113-konkurs-atgm/.
Jonathan Marcus, “Tough lessons for Israeli armour,” BBC, August 15, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4794829.stm.
Haaretz, “Hezbollah Expected to Launch 100 Missiles a Day at Tel Aviv.”
BBC, “Tough lessons for Israeli armour”; Blanford, Warriors of God, 338.
SIPRI, 410-411.
“Merkava v Kornet E ATGM,” Al Jazeera video on YouTube, June 5, 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzVEduKGUws.
Josh Cohen, “If Russia Is Supplying Weapons to Hezbollah — Watch Out,” War is Boring, February 17, 2016, http://warisboring.com/if-russia-is-supplying-weapons-to-hezbollah-watch-out/.
Robert Beckhusen, “Israel Plans to Counter Hezbollah With Hundreds of Surface-to-Surface Missiles,” War is Boring, December 31, 2016, https://warisboring.com/israel-plans-to-counter-hezbollah-with-hundreds-of-surface-to-surface-missiles/.
Adam Rawnsley, “Iran-Backed Terror Group Parades New Anti-Aircraft Missiles in Iraq,” War is Boring (Medium), March 19, 2015, https://medium.com/war-is-boring/iran-backed-terror-group-parades-new-anti-aircraft-missiles-in-iraq-ca0204079eb0.
Army Recognition, “Misagh-1 Man portable air defence missile system,” January 5, 2012, https://www.armyrecognition.com/iran_iranian_army_missile_systems_vehicles_uk/misagh-1_man_portable_air_defence_missile_system_technical_data_sheet_specifications_pictures.html; Jane’s Artillery & Air Defense, 620-622.
Army Recognition, “Misagh-2 Man portable air defence missile system,” January 5, 2012, https://www.armyrecognition.com/iran_iranian_army_missile_systems_vehicles_uk/misagh-2_man_portable_air_defence_missile_system_technical_data_sheet_specifications_pictures.html; Jane’s Artillery & Air Defence, 620-622.
War is Boring, “Iran-Backed Terror Group Parades New Anti-Aircraft Missiles in Iraq.”
Jane’s Artillery & Air Defence, 590-592.
McGregor, “Hezbollah’s Tactics and Capabilities in Southern Lebanon.”
Jane’s Artillery & Air Defence, 647-649.
Yiftah Shapir, “Syrian Weapons in Hizbollah Hands,” Institute for National Strategic Studies, February 14, 2013, http://www.inss.org.il/publication/syrian-weapons-in-hizbollah-hands/; Haaretz, “Hezbollah Expected to Launch 100 Missiles a Day at Tel Aviv”; AEI Critical Threats, “Assessing Hezbollah’s Rocket Arsenal.”
Jane’s Artillery & Air Defence, 490-494.
Ibid.
Army Recognition, “Israeli Army believes Hezbollah has obtained SA-8 Russian air defence missile from Syria,” January 25, 2012, https://www.armyrecognition.com/january_2012_army_military_defense_industry_news/israeli_army_believes_hezbollah_has_obtained_sa-8_russian_air_defence_missile_from_syria_2501123.html.
Yifa Yaakov et al., “US official: Israel hit Hezbollah-bound missiles in Syria,” Times of Israel, October 31, 2013, https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-attacked-twice-in-syria-destroying-sa-8-missiles/.
Jane’s Artillery & Air Defence, 650-652.
INSS, “Syrian Weapons in Hizbollah Hands”; AEI Critical Threats, “Assessing Hezbollah’s Rocket Arsenal.”
AEI Critical Threats, “Assessing Hezbollah’s Rocket Arsenal.”
Judah Ari Gross, “If Hezbollah has the SA-17, it’s a ‘big deal,’ expert says,” Times of Israel, April 8, 2016, https://www.timesofisrael.com/if-hezbollah-has-the-sa-17-its-a-big-deal-expert-says/.
Gabe Fisher, “Israeli jets reportedly attack convoy on Lebanon-Syria border,” Times of Israel, January 30, 2013, https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-jets-reportedly-penetrate-lebanese-airspace/.
Times of Israel, “If Hezbollah has the SA-17, it’s a ‘big deal,’ expert says.”
War is Boring, “If Russia Is Supplying Weapons to Hezbollah — Watch Out.”
Missile Threat, “Pantsir S-1,” last updated May 4, 2017, https://missilethreat.csis.org/defsys/pantsir-s-1/.
Amos Harel, “At UN, Netanyahu Reveals Details on Hezbollah Weapons Acquisitions,” Haaretz, October 2, 2015, https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.678540.