Illustrative image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
Hezbollah announced late on July 25 that its air defenses had fired missiles at Israeli fighter jets operating over Lebanon.
The missiles were fired “in support of the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their valiant and honorable resistance,” the group said in a statement, adding that its air defense fire forced the fighter jets “to retreat and withdraw behind the Lebanese border with occupied Palestine.”
Video footage posted to social networks showed Israeli fighter jets dropping flares and speeding back across the border after being targeted. Nevertheless, no hits were reported by Hezbollah or the Israeli Air Force (IAF).
Hezbollah air defenses fired missiles on Israeli fighter jets more than once since the clashes on the Lebanese-Israeli border broke out after the start of the war on Gaza last October. The group also managed to shoot down at least five Israeli combat drones.
The full extent of Hezbollah air defense capabilities remains unknown. However, it has been confirmed that the group possesses advanced medium-range air defense systems, at least including the Iranian-made Sayyad-2 anti-aircraft missile.
A recent Israeli military assessment concluded that the IAF will need to take risks to combat Hezbollah’s air defenses in case of a full-blown war with Lebanon, according to the Times of Israel.
The IAF has assessed that some of its fighter jets may be shot down by the group during such a war, and risks will need to be taken to obtain aerial superiority during the first days.
The clashes on the Israeli-Lebanese border escalated in the last few months. The death toll on the Israeli side has reached 30, including 18 soldiers. Meanwhile in Lebanon, more than 500 people have been killed, including 358 fighters of Hezbollah.
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