Hezbollah reported that over 320 Katyusha rockets had been fired at Israeli positions up to now.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah introduced that it launched a serious assault utilizing rockets and drones on Israeli positions early within the morning on Sunday (August 25) in response to the killing of a prime commander. Israel, in flip, carried out what it described as pre-emptive strikes towards the group.
Hezbollah reported that over 320 Katyusha rockets had been fired at Israeli positions up to now. The group acknowledged that 11 Israeli bases and barracks have been focused, together with some within the Golan Heights, which Israel has annexed. The Iran-backed Hezbollah motion has been exchanging hearth with Israel in help of Hamas because the Palestinian militant group’s assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to the battle in Gaza.
However, considerations a couple of bigger battle intensified after Iran and Hezbollah vowed to retaliate for the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and an Israeli strike that killed senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in south Beirut final month. According to Hezbollah, their newest assault was solely a primary response to Shukr’s killing. The group claimed that the ‘first phase’ of their operation was “completely successful”, aiming to focus on Israeli barracks and positions to clear the best way for assault drones to achieve deeper targets inside Israel.
The Israeli army reported that roughly 100 warplanes have been used to hold out the airstrikes, focusing on quite a few rocket launch websites throughout southern Lebanon. By mid-morning, the alternate of hearth appeared to have been halted. In Lebanon, at the least three individuals misplaced their lives within the assaults. Israel reported that one of its service members, 21-year-old Petty Officer 1st Class David Moshe Ben Shitrit, was killed in northern Israel and two different troopers sustained minor and average accidents.
Since October, Lebanon’s well being ministry has reported that over 560 individuals have been killed, with most of them being Hezbollah fighters. In Israel, the authorities have confirmed the deaths of 26 civilians and 23 troopers. The UN additionally states that just about 200,000 individuals have been displaced on each side of the border.
Katyusha Rockets: From WWII Origins
During World War II, Soviet troopers referred to as the 82mm and 132mm rockets utilized by their forces ‘Katyusha’, which suggests ‘Little Katy’ in Russian. The 82mm rockets had a diameter of 82 millimetres, whereas the 132mm rockets had a diameter of 132 millimetres.
Hezbollah makes use of varied varieties of Katyusha rockets, every with totally different options. These rockets come in numerous ranges, usually spanning from 4-40 kilometres. They additionally differ in phrases of warhead, which might vary from 10-20 kilograms and embrace both excessive explosive supplies or sub-munitions, that are smaller explosive units contained inside a bigger warhead. These smaller explosives are designed to be dispersed over a wider space upon detonation, growing the potential injury and protection of the rocket. The rockets have various launch weights, often starting from 45-75 kilograms.
Deadly Katyusha 122mm 9M22 Variant
Today, one of the well-known variations of Katyusha rockets is the 122mm 9M22 Grad-type. This variant is broadly used and acknowledged by army consultants. To put it merely, ‘122mm’ refers back to the diameter of the rocket, with a measurement of 122 millimetres. On the opposite hand, ‘9M22 Grad’ is the particular designation given to this mannequin of Katyusha rocket. It is vital to notice that ‘Grad’ means ‘hail’ (hailstones or ice pellets) in Russian, which can mirror the rocket’s potential to bathe the goal space with projectiles upon launch.
The 9M22 Grad-type variant of Katyusha rockets was initially designed for use with the Soviet BM-21 a number of rocket launcher. These rockets have an efficient vary of round 20 kilometres and are succesful of carrying both 6 kilograms of excessive explosive materials or sub-munitions. These Katyusha rockets could be launched from a selected launcher and may journey as much as 20 kilometres, delivering both a strong explosive payload, or dispersing smaller explosives to trigger hurt to people.
The Katyusha rocket could be launched utilizing both easy tripod launchers, or from truck-based a number of rocket launchers (MRLs). The rocket could be fired utilizing totally different launchers and though it might not be extraordinarily exact, it might probably nonetheless hit its goal inside a selected zone measuring round 336 metres by 160 metres.
Katyusha rockets have been the principle weapons utilized by Hezbollah within the 2006 Lebanon conflict. Iran is Hezbollah’s most important provider of Katyusha rockets. Since 2001, they’ve additionally offered truck-mounted rocket launchers to the group. These weapons enable Hezbollah to launch Katyushas at Israel, both one by one, or in fast succession for extra media consideration.
Before Israel’s Iron Dome system was deployed in 2011, intercepting Katyusha rockets was difficult. Their quick flight time and low trajectory made it arduous and expensive for superior missile defences, such because the Patriot system, to cease them.
(The creator of this text is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst primarily based in Bengaluru. He can be Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can attain him at: girishlinganna@gmail.com)
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this article are of the creator solely.
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