The Hezbollah’s very innovative use of anti-tank guided missiles has drawn the attention of military specialists eager to learn lessons from the recent fighting in Lebanon.
Swarm Tactics
The Hezbollah fired multiple missiles against a single target. This proved very effective against both tanks and infantry. Hezbollah swarm tactics damaged Israelis heavily armoured Merkava tanks with missiles volley at their rear and sides. Most innovative was their use of anti-tank missiles against the Israeli Infantry. Because they had such a profusion of anti-tank missiles, they were able to fire at ranges of almost 3000 mtrs. These stand off attacks served to separate the Infantry from the tanks. They forced the tanks to advance buttoned up and without the traditional Infantry escort. This is particularly dangerous in an urban battlefield where tankmen rely on Infantry to spot ambushes.38
Steven Zologa, a Land Warfare analyst at the Virginia based Teal group said, “the Hezbollah’s huge arsenal of anti-tank missiles allowed them to shoot from 3000 meters away, well beyond the range of Israeli Infantry small arms. Missile volleys forced the infantry to scatter, yet denied them the sanctuary of buildings as these were easily targeted by the missiles. The missiles even threatened Israeli helicopters.”39
Layered Defence
This helped create a layered defensive system in which anti-tank missiles placed in over watch positions in the rear, could provide fire support for fighters in frontline trenches and bunkers.40 This layered defence system robbed Israel’s armoured forces of proper combined-arms integration preventing them from making a swift thrust into Lebanon. Instead they became bogged down in costly slogging matches as they chewed through the Hezbollah defences. They very often also got separated from their logistical follow on elements bringing in the ammunition, food and water. Anthony S Cordesman says, the Hezbollah’s tactics of firing multiple missiles against a single target proved effective both against the tanks and infantry. This served to destroy the integrity and cohesion of the combined Arms Teams.
Cease-fire
Finally on 13 Aug 06, barely a few days after the major ground offensive began, the Cease-Fire came into force. Most Israeli ground units had penetrated some 4-6 km deep. Hezbollah was still active in Southern Lebanon and capable of launching almost 200 rockets a day into Israel.41
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