Comparison of Military Arsenal of Israel and Hezbollah Amidst Increasing Likelihood of Middle East War Expansion

The intensification of clashes between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has raised concerns about the potential expansion of the Middle East war into new fronts. A rocket fired from Lebanon on Wednesday, February 25, struck the settlement of "Safed" in northern Israel, killing one Israeli soldier and injuring at least eight others. In response, Israel conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon, killing at least 10 people, including several civilians, and injuring nine others. These confrontations are a consequence of a war that began on October 7 with a terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, which was followed by Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip, controlled by this Palestinian group. Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, along with both groups, is supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Hezbollah did not claim responsibility for the attack on Israel on Wednesday but stated that it would continue its attacks on Israel until a ceasefire is established in Gaza. This article reviews the military arsenals of Israel and Hezbollah, which will be a determining factor in a potential war between the two sides. Hezbollah, the most significant militia force in the Arab world, has a strong internal structure and a considerable arsenal. With the support of the Islamic Republic, Hezbollah forces have gained valuable experience in the 13-year Syrian war and have been crucial in shifting the balance of power in favor of Bashar al-Assad's government. While Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, boasts of having one hundred thousand fighters, some say Hezbollah's forces are less than half that number. Israel demands that Hezbollah withdraw its elite forces known as "Radwan" from near the Israeli border in southern Lebanon so that tens of thousands of displaced Israelis can return to their homes in northern Israeli cities and villages. According to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, Hezbollah possesses a vast arsenal of mainly small, portable, and unguided ground artillery rockets. The U.S. and Israel estimate that Hezbollah and other militia groups in Lebanon have about 150,000 missiles and rockets. Hezbollah has also worked on precision-guided missiles. Previously, Hezbollah launched drones towards Israel and targeted an Israeli warship with a land-to-sea missile in 2005. Hezbollah forces also have assault rifles, heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, roadside bombs, and other weaponry. During the current conflict, Hezbollah has continuously used Russian-made "Kornet" portable anti-tank missiles against Israel. However, it has rarely deployed "Burkan" missiles, which, according to Hassan Nasrallah, can carry a warhead weighing between 300 to 500 kilograms. In recent weeks, Hezbollah has unveiled new weapons, including a ground-to-ground missile with a range of 10 kilometers and a 50-kilogram warhead. The Israeli army has long been supported by the U.S. and has a budget of $3.3 billion and $500 million in missile defense technology assistance. Israel is one of the most armed countries in the Middle East. Its air force has advanced American "F-35" fighter jets. It possesses missile defense systems, including the American-made Patriot defense system, the Iron Dome missile defense system, and another new missile system developed with U.S. assistance. Israel also has armored personnel carriers, tanks, a fleet of drones, and other technologies to support any street battles. According to the British think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies, Israel has 170,000 soldiers who are usually on duty and has called up 360,000 reserve soldiers for war. Given that the war is now in its fifth month, many of these reserve forces have been released. Israel has also long maintained an undeclared nuclear weapons program. Despite the current minor clashes, most experts believe that Israel and Hezbollah do not wish to engage in a full-scale war. The two sides had a 34-day war in 2006 that ended in a stalemate with no winner.