Israel attacks Gaza Strip

Shahid said:

Now I would like to know how many countries and international organizations didn't officially recognize Israel?

Click to expand...

FuManChu said:

I have a different suggestion, with all due respect.

List all the non-Islamic countries that do not recognise Israel.

Click to expand...

The majority of Israel Defense Forces ground troops casualties, both infantry and armored, were the result of special anti-tank units of Hezbollah, according to intelligence sources.

The same sources note that these units have not retreated from southern Lebanon following the deployment of large IDF ground forces in the area.

The Hezbollah anti-tank teams use a new and particularly potent version of the Russian-made RPG, the RPG-29, that has been sold by Moscow to the Syrians and then transferred to the Shi'ite organization.

Some of the IDF casualties resulted when the rockets struck homes in which IDF troops had taken positions. This was the case when four soldiers of the elite Egoz unit were killed in the village of Bint Jbail. In that case a Sagger anti-tank missile had been used.

The RPG-29's penetrating power comes from its tandem warhead, and on a number of occasions has managed to get through the massive armor of the Merkava tanks.

The IDF had intelligence information on Hezbollah plans to deploy specialized anti-tank teams in order to delay the advance of IDF ground forces. The special focus Hezbollah gave to anti-tank weapons as part of their doctrine was revealed during the raid on the border village of Ghajar in November 2005.

During that attack, Hezbollah fighters attempted to kidnap IDF soldiers, and some of the guerrillas were killed and their bodies left behind.

This was the same unit that fought in Bint Jbail and whose men were killed there.

During the battle at Ghajar, which is inside Israeli territory and has an Alawite population, Hezbollah fighters fired more than 300 anti-tank rockets of different types, including the new RPG-29, which targetted various armored vehicles and two Merkava Mark-2 tanks. One of the two tanks had the necessary armor to deflect the missiles, but the other took a hit to the body.

Following the battle at Ghajar, Israeli inquiries that Russia was transferring modern anti-tank weapons to Syria and on to Hezbollah were received with anger. The Russians demanded proof that this had been done.

Contrary to common practice, Israel transferred to Russia the tail-end of a rocket for analysis. The Russian response was that in the absence of a serial number they were hard pressed to identify it as part of a load delivered to Syria.

The IDF believes Hezbollah also has an advanced anti-aircraft missile, the SA-18, from Iran. It is particularly lethal against helicopters, and even though none of the missiles have been fired against Israel Air Force aircraft, the flights over Lebanon are taking the necessary precautions.

Click to expand...

It seams that Hezbollah’s main tactic is to avoid firefights whit IDF infantry but to rather attack them whit anti tank weapons… Also it is quite interesting that while they poses quite modern MANPAD’s IDF was still able to conduct successful raids deep in the Lebanon…

Click to expand...

Gollevainen said:

Shoot and scoop...Pretty much one of the basics of gurellian warfare. What comes to MANPADS, their existence in the hands of Hezbollah is mostly based on US/Israeli claims that Syria or Iran has provided those to Hezbollah. Those claims are quite politically coloured and IMO not so solid. I'm not saying that if Hezbollah would have those, it would downed lots of Israeli aircrafts, but that there would at least be reports of SAMs being laucnhed agaisnt Israeli aircrafts. Why would Hezbollah keep those weapons under table?

Click to expand...

Gollevainen said:

It makes sense that they could have them, but we cannot make assumptions from thetis like "if they have this, then they most likely have that too..." Downing a enemy planes is a great propaganda victory more so when the opposite (IDF) is regarded as one of the best air forces in the whole wolrd. So If Hezbollah would have MANPADS, they would have tryed to shoot down as many Israeli aircrafts as possiple. From Israeli side, having hard evidence that hezbollah posses such a weaponry would be benefit to them as they could then state that Iran or Syria is providing weaponry to terrorist and thus having more international support to their claims.

So as both sides are being silent, I belive that Hezbollah dosen't have MANPADs at least not the level of Sa-18. Othervice it would have been shouted loud in all news form both sides...

Click to expand...

Gollevainen said:

It makes sense that they could have them, but we cannot make assumptions from thetis like "if they have this, then they most likely have that too..." Downing a enemy planes is a great propaganda victory more so when the opposite (IDF) is regarded as one of the best air forces in the whole wolrd. So If Hezbollah would have MANPADS, they would have tryed to shoot down as many Israeli aircrafts as possiple. From Israeli side, having hard evidence that hezbollah posses such a weaponry would be benefit to them as they could then state that Iran or Syria is providing weaponry to terrorist and thus having more international support to their claims.

So as both sides are being silent, I belive that Hezbollah dosen't have MANPADs at least not the level of Sa-18. Othervice it would have been shouted loud in all news form both sides...

Click to expand...

Chilling threat as Syria offer to join with Hezbollah
MICHAEL THEODOULOU AND BEN LYNFIELD NEAR HAIFA, NORTHERN ISRAEL

* Syria offer to join with militant group, Hezbollah
* Syrian foreign minister "welcomes" the prospect of war
* Israel continues to bomb Lebanon in response to attacks

"If Israel attacks Syria by any means, on the ground, in the air, our leadership ordered the armed forces to reply immediately"
Walid Muallem, Syrian foreign minister

SYRIA'S foreign minister yesterday offered to join militant group Hezbollah in its fight against Israel and said a regional war would be "most welcome" as more than 30 people in Israel and Lebanon were killed on one of the worst days since the conflict began.

Click to expand...

Shahid said:

It's a bad translation. The arabic expression he used was something like 'we will step for it' meaning that they will not try to avoid it. They dont 'welcome' war in arabic...

Anyway, it shows that the recent affirmations of Olmert about attacking Syria are taken seriously by the syrian governement. Looks like the big show is about to begin...let's hope not.

Click to expand...