The recent demonstration of Hezbollah’s capabilities, which have intensified in recent weeks, still represents only a small fraction of the Iran-backed terror group’s aerial arsenal. The IDF believes this arsenal includes an array of precision munitions supplied mainly by Iran over the past decade, or weapons that have undergone upgrade and modifications based on lessons learned in the conflict.
The IDF is most concerned about the terror group’s precision missiles, and accordingly, the Air Defense Command has expanded dramatically. A new Iron Dome battalion was established with soldiers brought on from other units; there has been a roughly 50% increase in dedicated recruitments in recent military induction cycles, and more radars have been deployed in the north — the most sought-after resource due to many instances where detecting drones and activating sirens has been difficult. One such example was the fatal incident in Hurfeish last week, where one reserve officer was killed and others wounded.
With that in mind, the IDF is preparing to defend against ‘swarms’ of Hezbollah drones and barrages of hundreds of missiles. The Military estimates Hezbollah has yet to present its full aerial arsenal since the war began; efforts are underway to ensure a defense against extremely challenging scenarios.
Magen David Adom is contemplating what emergency response will look like in the face of extensive power outages caused by either a military-style attack or a major natural disaster, as both Israel and Hezbollah ramp up their forces in preparation for an increasingly likely Third Lebanon War.