Concrete threats: How Hezbollah's DIY launchers challenge Israel

Hezbollah, one of the pillars of Lebanon's fragile governmental structures, has demonstrated how it can use building materials for offensive purposes. For instance, cement can be used not only for constructing infrastructure or homes but also for creating launchers for 122-mm rockets fired at northern Israeli territory.

Hezbollah is a Shia political organisation heavily supported by Iran, similar to other Shia groups in the region. Unlike Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah operates from the haven of independent Lebanon, making it a much better-trained and equipped adversary.

According to estimates by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Hezbollah has a militia comprising about 20,000 active members and a similar number in reserve. Furthermore, by 2021, Hezbollah was reported to have a stockpile of 130,000 various rockets, ranging from unguided munitions with a range of tens of kilometres to even ballistic missiles with a range of hundreds of kilometres.

The first category includes, for example, 122-mm rockets for BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket systems with a range of up to 20 kilometres or 40 kilometres depending on the rockets, as well as BM-27 Uragan systems firing 220-mm missiles with a range of up to 60 kilometres. Below, you can see a concrete multiple-launch rocket launcher for 122-mm rockets.

Hezbollah's creation is most likely stationary, more prominent, and heavier than the BM-21 Grad launcher, but it possesses the same firepower because it houses 40 rockets with a range likely around 20 kilometres. Theoretically, it is possible to fire up to 40 kilometres using new missiles such as the Serbian G-2000, but this is unlikely.

The rockets used are unguided, and each contains a fragmentation-explosive warhead weighing 18-19 kilograms, characterized by a blast radius of several dozen metres. This gives tremendous destructive capabilities when 40 rockets are launched in 20 seconds. Moreover, such a system can be used for remote road mining using rockets with a cluster warhead containing PTM-3 mines.

For this reason, concrete launchers could pose a severe problem for Israel if it decided to attack Lebanon with ground forces. Hezbollah could use them to shell cities in northern Israel or provide substantial artillery support.