Video posted by Hezbollah shows this force firing missiles at Israel’s modern Merkava tank, disabling the weapon.
On April 24, the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah posted a video of its force attacking Israeli Merkava tanks near the settlement of Metulla, close to the border between the two countries. The raid occurred on the evening of April 16, while the tank was moving to an Israeli military base in the area.
In the video, Hezbollah’s anti-tank unit used a thermal imaging camera to detect the Merkava moving around a bend at dusk. This group fired anti-tank missiles (ATGM) at the target, creating a large explosion and causing the Merkava to catch fire.
Israeli forces then released smoke around the area where the car was hit to evacuate the injured.
The last part of the video was filmed at dawn, showing the Merkava tank disabled and left on the side of the road. It is unclear the specific extent of damage to the vehicle, but Hezbollah said the crew members were “dead or injured”.
Hezbollah followed and launched an ATGM to destroy an Israeli Merkava tank on April 17. Video: Hezbollah
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not commented on the information.
Merkava is a main tank line developed by Israel in the 1970s and put into service in 1979. They are designed to provide maximum protection for the crew, with reinforced front armor, engines located in the nose of the vehicle and the turret is located backwards, with the door at the rear of the vehicle.
Hezbollah did not release specific information about the tank that was just defeated, but it is likely that this is the latest variant Mark 4M, because the Mark 3 version has no longer been regularly used by the Israeli army since 2020.
Deployed since 2011, the Merkava Mark 4M variant is nicknamed the best protected tank model in the world today, thanks to being equipped with the active defense system (APS) Trophy.
The system provides 360-degree protection in the horizontal plane to detect threats such as missiles and anti-tank ammunition. The computer will then analyze and order the launch of metal shells to neutralize the attack before they reach the tank’s main armor.
Trophy can also retrace the threat’s flight path, automatically pointing the cannon barrel toward where the missile or bullet was fired. This system proved effective during the Israeli tank force’s engagement in Gaza, when it intercepted a number of Hamas shells.
The moment Israeli tanks blocked Hamas’ attack
However, Trophy cannot scan 360 degrees in all directions, so it is not effective in protecting against roof-breaking attacks. Trophy also needs at least 1.5 seconds to reload after each interception, making it vulnerable if attacked by two or more missiles in quick succession.
Israeli Merkava tanks operate in the Gaza Strip in December 2023. Image: Reuters
The Tharallah ATGM system provided by Iran to Hezbollah is a weapon capable of effectively exploiting this weakness. Tharallah consists of two 9M133 Kornet ATGM launchers or Iran’s localized version of Dehlaviyeh put together, capable of consecutively firing two missiles carrying dual warheads at the same target, the second being launched only 1 hour after the first. /4 seconds.
Hezbollah forces have repeatedly claimed to have destroyed Israel’s Merkava tanks since the beginning of the war. As of April 24, the armed group said it had disabled a total of 92 enemy military vehicles, including this tank line.
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has occurred almost daily since the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah announced an attack on Israel to show support for Hamas forces in the strip of land, the group’s ally in the Iran-backed “axis of resistance” against Tel Aviv and the West.
Clashes between the two sides left 380 people dead in Lebanon, including at least 72 civilians. Israel said 11 soldiers and 8 civilians died after raids by armed groups.
Location of Lebanon and Israel. Graphics: CNN
Pham Giang (According to Al Mayadeen, Army Recognition, AFP)
