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Israel expects Hezbollah to fire 2,000 rockets a day in wartime: IDF

WION Web Team
Ramla, IsraelUpdated: Oct 18, 2021, 11:08 AM IST
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File photo Photograph:(AFP)

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Iran-backed Hezbollah was "the source of instability in Lebanon", the security source said, adding that the group "exploits the state's resources for Iranian interests".

A senior Israeli military source said that Israel does not desire war with Hezbollah, but is prepared to confront 2,000 missiles a day from the terror group if one breaks out.

During the 11-day battle in Gaza between Israel and Hamas in May, Palestinian terror groups launched about 4,400 missiles at Israel.

The Iron Dome air defence system stopped over 90% of the missiles aimed at populous regions, with only a few hundred hitting residential neighbourhoods.

Cities such as Tel Aviv and Ashdod saw the "largest amount of fire directed at them in Israeli history," according to Uri Gordin, commander of the army's Home Front Command. 

Watch | Gravitas: US: Hezbollah is storing caches of weapons, ammonium nitrate across Europe


 

"We saw a pace of more than 400 rockets fired towards Israel on a daily basis."

Gordin said that in the case of a future "conflict or a war with Hezbollah, we expect more than five times the number of rockets fired every day from Lebanon to Israel."

"Basically, we are looking at between 1,500 and 2,500 rockets fired daily towards Israel," he said.

The IDF's Home Front Command is in charge of civil defence, which means it is in charge of preparing the country in the event of a danger, war, or tragedy.

The unit was chastised for their response to the 2006 Hezbollah conflict, which killed over 1,200 Lebanese and 160 Israelis. 

That conflict served as a "wake-up call" for the Home Front Command, according to Gordin, who added that it has since bolstered up its liaison teams, which are now operating in 250 Israeli towns to give assistance in the event of an assault.

The Home Front Command predicts a rocket's course after it has been fired using computer predictions, and tells the population to go to bomb shelters if they are within a certain range. 

According to an Israeli security source, the IDF is looking for "stability" with its northern neighbour, which is embroiled in a crushing economic crisis and saw fatal sectarian riots in the capital Beirut on Thursday, killing seven people, including Hezbollah members. 

Iran-backed Hezbollah was "the source of instability in Lebanon", the security source said, adding that the group "exploits the state's resources for Iranian interests".

Iran is "closer to creating fissile material for nuclear weapons than they ever were in the past" but would still need two years to obtain a bomb, the source said, echoing a timeframe cited by other Israeli officials.

Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes.

"We are preparing for all options and scenarios, including military capabilities," the security source said.

Israel has been staunchly opposed to the revival of a nuclear deal agreed between Tehran and world powers in 2015.

(With inputs from agencies)