IDF finding far more Russian arms in Hezbollah’s possession than expected – report
Unclear how weapons reached Lebanese terror group; 60-70% of arms found in initial days of ground op were Russian-made, including anti-tank weapons produced as recently as 2020
Israeli troops operating in south Lebanon have encountered larger amounts of Russian weaponry in the possession of Hezbollah than the military had expected, according to a report Tuesday.
Many of the weapons were originally owned by the Syrian military, which has been supplied by Russia for years, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing Syrian security officials and an Arab official.
However, it is unclear exactly how the weapons reached the Lebanese terror group. Both Russia and Hezbollah fought on the side of Syria’s President Bashar Assad in the Syrian civil war.
Hezbollah’s cache of modern, sophisticated weaponry far exceeded prior military estimates in both quantity and capability, the report said, bolstering the group’s ability to strike and kill Israeli soldiers.
An IDF commander who heads the National Munition Disassembly Lab told the Journal that 60-70 percent of arms found in the first days of the ground operation were Russian-made.
Among those weapons were Kornet anti-tank missiles made as recently as 2020, the report said.
The Russian and Syrian governments didn’t answer a request for comment, while the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment on the report.
Israel has tried to maintain positive relations with Moscow due to Russia’s military presence in Syria, Israel’s northern and bellicose neighbor.
On the other hand, Russia has regularly criticized Israel since October 7, including at the UN Security Council, and has hosted Hamas leaders, in a development widely seen as an extension of its increasingly friendly ties with Iran.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel has proposed giving any Russian-made weapons seized by the IDF in Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, or the West Bank to Ukraine, drawing praise from Kyiv’s envoy.
The bill, which likely has little chance of passing, stipulates that “Russian-manufactured weaponry seized in Lebanon or the Palestinian Authority territories, which the defense minister determines is not required for Israel’s defense needs, will be transferred to the Government of Ukraine to strengthen its military capabilities in combating forces that threaten its sovereignty.”
Transferring Russian-made military equipment “not only neutralizes the risk posed by such weaponry to Israel but also contributes to Ukraine’s rightful struggle to defend its independence and sovereignty,” its explanatory notes state — touting its potential impact in “undermining Russian interests in Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority Territories, showcasing an effective approach to neutralizing regional threats and contributing to global security.”
Successive Israeli governments have refused to send arms to Ukraine throughout the war and despite Haskel’s proposal, there is no indication that that policy is going to change.
A former Israeli ambassador to Russia, Arkady Mil-Man, told the Journal that Israel should be “more assertive and defend its interests” with Moscow.
“We must explain and convey to the Russians that we will no longer stand any assistance to Hezbollah and Iran that could hurt Israelis,” said Mil-Man.
Carmelit Valensi, a senior researcher in the Institute for National Security Studies think tank in Tel Aviv, also said Israel must “sober up” from its balanced approach since powerful Russian capabilities are “extracting casualties” on the field in southern Lebanon.
Since October 8, Hezbollah-led forces have attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the northern border on a near-daily basis, with the group saying it is doing so to support Gaza.
Some 60,000 residents were evacuated from northern towns on the Lebanon border shortly after Hamas’s October 7 onslaught, amid fears Hezbollah would carry out a similar attack, and increasing rocket fire by the terror group.
The attacks on northern Israel since October 2023 have resulted in the deaths of 44 civilians. In addition, 70 IDF soldiers and reservists have died in cross-border skirmishes and in the ground operation launched in southern Lebanon in late September.
Two soldiers have been killed in a drone attack from Iraq, and there have also been several attacks from Syria, without any injuries.
The IDF estimates that some 3,000 Hezbollah operatives have been killed in the conflict. Around 100 members of other terror groups, along with hundreds of civilians, have also been reported killed in Lebanon.
Lazar Berman and Sam Sokol contributed to this report.
