As reported by the Wall Street Journal (Wsj), during operations in southern Lebanon the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) «are finding ‘large treasures’ of Russian weapons in southern Lebanon, confirming suspicions that the combat capability of Hezbollah would be significantly supported by Russian weapons.” For example, some of the weapons, including Kornet anti-tank missiles, were supplied by Russia to Syria and from there easily reached Lebanon, they told Wsj an Arab official and Syrian security officials. There Russia It has its warehouses in Syria and also supplies weapons to the Syrian Army. Israel has been well aware for years that the terrorist group Hezbollah has Russian-made weapons, but has so far been unable to fully demonstrate this due to the group’s strategic location in southern Lebanon. However, with the launch of the “Northern Arrows” operation in the same area, the IDF discovered newer and more modern weapons, in significantly larger quantities than its military analysts had predicted. These weapons proved crucial in allowing Hezbollah to maintain resistance, despite the elimination of its top leadership. In particular, anti-tank weapons, among the most effective in their hands, were used to inflict a considerable number of Israeli casualties. The WSJ underlines that these new discoveries have fueled growing fears regarding a possible strengthening of ties between Russia and Hezbollah. In this regard, a senior Israeli security official told the US newspaper that Russia has intensified its cooperation with Iran, receiving drones and ballistic missiles from the latter. The same model of drone used by Russia against Ukraine is employed by Hezbollah against Israel.
Russia in Syria
Russia has been present in Syria since 2011, the year it began supporting the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad during the civil war. Starting in 2015, Moscow began to fight directly on the field alongside Hezbollahwhich shared the same goal of keeping Assad in power. This strategic alliance has facilitated Hezbollah’s access to Russian arsenals in Syria, fostering closer relations between the two sides, according to reports Wsj by Syrian security officials and an Arab representative. However, the frequency with which Hezbollah obtained weapons through these channels remains uncertain, the outlet noted. Russian-made weapons in Hezbollah’s possession include Kornet, Metis, Konkurs, Fagot and Sagger. These weapons were found less than a kilometer away in southern Lebanon, both above ground and underground, as stated in the Wsj by an Israeli manager of the dismantling laboratory. The latter specified that he could not confirm how Hezbollah obtained these weapons or received the necessary training to use them, but highlighted that 60-70% of the weapons seized at the beginning of the Northern Arrows operation were of Russian origin. As the operation continues, IDF soldiers continue to discover “many” Russian weapons inside Lebanon. Some date back to models produced up to 2020, while others are older models Syrian foreign officials responded to requests for comment from the WSJ, while the Israeli Prime Minister’s office refused to comment.
Russia and Israel were once friends
Israel has long sought to maintain stable diplomatic ties with Russia, in part to avoid potential conflicts in Syria, where the Russian military presence is continually intertwined with Israeli operations aimed at disrupting the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah. However, according to experts, Russia’s approach in the region and more generally in the Middle East has completely changed since the start of the war with Ukraine in 2022. Since then, Moscow has adopted a more aggressive line in counter the United States and its allies. For example, the Wall Street Journal reported that Russia provided targeting information to Houthi rebels in Yemen for attacks on Western shipping in the Red Sea earlier this year. Furthermore, according to Pentagon sources, Moscow is considering the possibility of supplying anti-ship missiles to the Houthis. At the same time, the Journal reported that Africa Corps (formerly Wagner Group), Russia’s main paramilitary organization, “planned to transfer an air defense system to Hezbollah, although it is unclear whether the delivery has been completed.” Vladimir Putin’s Russia after the attack Hamas in Israel on 7 October 2023 which triggered the ongoing war, welcomed the main Hamas leaders to Moscow several times. According to the Kremlin, these meetings were organized in an attempt to mediate a reconciliation between Hamas and Fatahthe rival Palestinian group that governs part of the West Bank and which today aspires to participate in the reconstruction of Gaza because it is a big business that Palestinian terrorists want to get their hands on.
Israel must change its approach to Moscow
Some Israeli analysts and officials have begun to question Israel’s political approach towards Russia, pointing out that Moscow has clearly demonstrated its military support for the Jewish state’s enemies. Unlike most Western nations, Israel provided Ukraine with limited, non-military support during its war against Russia. This strategy, according to experts, was dictated by the desire to avoid a confrontation with Vladimir Putin. “We must abandon this course of action,” he declared Carmit Valensisenior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studiesa think tank based in Tel Aviv. «It is no longer just about Russian support for the so-called “axis of resistance”, a phenomenon apparently disconnected from Israel. Now we are facing these consequences directly on the battlefield where our soldiers die.”
