Following Israeli airstrikes on a number of targets related to Hezbollah’s air defense system in the vicinity of the villages of Najariya and Adousiya, south of Sidon, on May 17, 2024, footage circulating on social media from the scenes of the strikes showed remains of an Iranian Sayyad-2C surface-to-air missile found by Lebanese citizens in the Al-Zahrani area in southern Lebanon and around Sidon city.
This documentation of the Sayyad-2C missile was the first documentation of this missile in the hands of Hezbollah, revealing its deployment by the group in its attacks against Israel. The fact that Hezbollah possesses such capabilities testifies to the scope and level of Iranian support of the organization through the arms corridor, and the importance Tehran attaches to transferring air defense systems to Hezbollah. Alongside this, and in light of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s insinuations regarding the air defense capabilities of the organization, it is reasonable to assume the presence of this missile in Lebanon indicates the existence of complete air defense systems in their possession.
The presence of such advanced weaponry in Lebanon indicates a potential shift in the balance of power in the Middle East, raising concerns about the escalating military capabilities of non-state actors in the region. The assumption is that Hezbollah has more advanced air defense systems than what has been documented so far, which will probably be revealed later in the course of the fighting.
This documentation of the Sayyad-2C missile was the first documentation of this missile in the hands of Hezbollah, revealing its deployment by the group in its attacks against Israel. The fact that Hezbollah possesses such capabilities testifies to the scope and level of Iranian support of the organization through the arms corridor, and the importance Tehran attaches to transferring air defense systems to Hezbollah. Alongside this, and in light of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s insinuations regarding the air defense capabilities of the organization, it is reasonable to assume the presence of this missile in Lebanon indicates the existence of complete air defense systems in their possession.
The presence of such advanced weaponry in Lebanon indicates a potential shift in the balance of power in the Middle East, raising concerns about the escalating military capabilities of non-state actors in the region. The assumption is that Hezbollah has more advanced air defense systems than what has been documented so far, which will probably be revealed later in the course of the fighting.
Get the full report
If you would like to get the full report, leave your details in the form below.
Please be advised we can only send reports to validated government organizations.
