Israel blames Russian rocket launchers for its setbacks in Lebanon

[Aptrgangr]

Israel blames Russian rocket launchers for its setbacks in Lebanon
by Viktor Litovkin

Hizbullah has, reportedly, already destroyed at least one armor division out of a total of seven that the IDF relies upon. These losses have jeopardized Israel’s blitzkrieg strategy and have lead the latter to limit its ground campaign to the pace of infantrymen. The Lebanese Resistance uses upscale Russian anti-tank rocket launchers that not only punch holes through Israeli Merkava, but also through US-made tanks. Viktor Litovkin analyses the growing argument between Tel-Aviv and Moscow.


The Merkava battletank
Nice Israeli Denfence Forces propaganda images and... their antidote.

Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Hezbollah was using modern anti-tank weapons of Russian make, specifically the RPG-29 Vampirs with a tandem warhead. Such statements have perplexed Russian arms experts, but they agreed to talk with me if I did not mention their names. "As usually happens in war, either side can interpret our words in its favor, and we don’t want that. We are neutral, and do not want to be accused of bias," one of them said.
The main point they made is this: the fact that Hezbollah militants are armed with RPG-29 handheld anti-tank grenade launchers does not mean that they received them from Syria, which acquired them in the course of military-technical cooperation with Moscow. A suspicion is not a fact. Facts must be proved by documented evidence, but there is none.
The fragments of projectiles and the tailpiece, which the Israelis have sent to us, do not provide any evidence of anything. They do indeed bear the letters of the Russian (Cyrillic) alphabet, but this is not enough for a complete examination. We have to look at the serial numbers of the weapons in order to determine where they were made, who sold them, and to whom.
The experts explained that the RPG-29 Vampir with a tandem HEAT (high explosive anti-tank) PG-29V warhead was developed in the late 1980s when tanks acquired reactive armor. The Soviet army received them in 1989. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, these grenade launchers and their projectiles could be found in almost all the newly independent ex-communist nations. They were even produced in some of them. Trying to establish whose grenades are hitting Israeli tanks will be pure guesswork.
If a contract on arms supplies is official, or "white", it always mentions the end user. But apart from white contracts there are semi-official, or "grey", exports, and even "black", which are unofficial and illegal.
Anyone from any country could sell RPG-29s to the Middle East, the Palestinians, Hezbollah, Hamas, or any other armed group. Elaborate set-ups could be used to do so. The experts did not name countries or companies, acting according to the innocent-until-proven-guilty principle, but many have already been proven guilty. Trials of illegal arms merchants have long ceased being a sensation. If senior officials have suspicions, or even make public accusations, they should back their statements with documents. Without facts this is idle talk and even political scheming.

The Russian-made RPG-29 anti-tank rocket launcher

The military experts observed that talk of "wrongful use of Russian weapons" starts whenever one of the sides has setbacks at the front lines. This is what the Americans did in Vietnam, and this is what they are doing in Iraq more than twenty years later, when they blame Russia for the fact that the militants are fighting with Russian arms. What other arms could they have if Iraqi leaders were getting them officially from the Soviet Union for almost 30 years? Now Israeli officials have followed suit.
The experts said that in accusing Russia of indirect support for the other side, politicians fail to realize that they admit their helplessness and discredit their own weapons and combat hardware. The Merkava tank has always been considered invincible in Israel. The Israelis were proud of its design and its upgraded reactive armor. They claimed it was the best tank in the world. Tactically, the Israeli army has used it very skillfully in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Merkavas entered rural districts only when they were supported by helicopters, and had direct and stable communication with them.
But, apparently, there are not enough helicopters for tank support on Lebanese territory. The crew of any tank can see very little. They do not know what is happening on the sides or in the back. It is an easy target for any militant, who can hide in the bushes or behind a jamb. He does not need to attack a Merkava from the front, where it does indeed have excellent protection. He can hit it from the side, the rear, or the space between the running gear — any tank has many vulnerable spots. Perfect weapons simply do not exist. So why complain about a Russian grenade launcher? The experts thanked the Israeli ministers for the free promotion of Russian weapons, but repeated they had nothing to do with this. They observed that Israeli tanks were hit in Lebanon, not in Israel.
Members of Hezbollah, no matter what emotions they may evoke, are mostly citizens of Lebanon, and have a lawful right to defend their land against the aggressor. At this point the experts said that they were reluctant to go into politics. They switched back to weapons, and added that Israel was not only using its own weapons.
The Merkava is an Israeli tank, but the M-113A1/A2 and M-577A2, on which Israeli soldiers drive into Lebanon, are of American make. The same applies to the following helicopters: the AH-1E/Bell-209, Chechnya-53D Stallion, UH-60 Blackhawk, S-70A, and assault AH-64 Apache. All their artillery — the AMRAAM, AIM-120B, AIM-95, and even the MLRS 227 multiple-launch rocket systems — were also made in the United States, not to mention assault aircraft, bombers, and fighters. The experts asked rhetorically: "Why blame anyone, if you are bombing a foreign country with foreign weapons?"
I did not argue with them. As a journalist, I merely try to familiarize readers with an opinion, which is different from what some Israeli leaders do regarding the "participation" of Russia and its weapons in the bloody conflict in the Middle East.

Israel blames Russian rocket launchers for its setbacks in Lebanon [Voltaire]

[Errigal]

Israelis are being crybabies. If they don't like these anti-tank weapons they should keep their tanks out of south Lebanon.

[Crvena zvezda]

It's great to see Russian weapons used in a way to help the world, destroy israel.

[Errigal]

I remember seeing on live TV an Israeli tank get hit by an RPG when it was only a few hundred meters into Lebanon. It turned on its smoke dischargers and ran back down the hill into Israel like a scared little kid. The Israelis never got more than a few hundred meters into Lebanon in this section of the border even after 35 days. Some blitzkrieg.

[Arthur Gordon Pym]

Originally Posted by A Few Acres of Snow

I remember seeing on live TV an Israeli tank get hit by an RPG when it was only a few hundred meters into Lebanon. It turned on its smoke dischargers and ran back down the hill into Israel like a scared little kid. The Israelis never got more than a few hundred meters into Lebanon in this section of the border even after 35 days. Some blitzkrieg.

Israelis, like Americans, would like to have a war with zero victims on their side, but that is simply impossible.

[Aptrgangr]

Originally Posted by Crvena zvezda

It's great to see Russian weapons used in a way to help the world, destroy israel.

What would be the benefit?
These weapons will be targeted against Serbian tanks very soon after NATO left an independent Kosovo in the case Serbian military intervenes.

Originally Posted by prometheus

Israelis, like Americans, would like to have a war with zero victims on their side, but that is simply impossible.

That's true, they believe to much in their superiour technology. Furthermore their military services are burdened with laws forbidding certain combat actions compared to militias.

[Crvena zvezda]

Originally Posted by Aptrgangr

What would be the benefit?
These weapons will be targeted against Serbian tanks very soon after NATO left an independent Kosovo in the case Serbian military intervenes.

Never thought of it that way. But Serbia has these very same weapons. Plus, I doubt there will be a new war in Kosovo and if there is it seem's NATO is withdrawing and it will be upto the EU to deal with the situation. Given how the EU can't respond to anything Serbia will be able to do as it wants so long as we do not expell large quantities of Shqiptars right away.

[Errigal]

Originally Posted by Aptrgangr

What would be the benefit?
These weapons will be targeted against Serbian tanks very soon after NATO left an independent Kosovo in the case Serbian military intervenes.

Hezbollah is totally within its rights to defend itself with these Russian anti-tank weapons. What does Kosovo have to do with this?

Originally Posted by Aptrgangr

That's true, they believe to much in their superiour technology. Furthermore their military services are burdened with laws forbidding certain combat actions compared to militias.

The Israeli and American militaries are burdened by laws? What laws? They don't seem very restrained to me.

[Aptrgangr]

Originally Posted by Crvena zvezda;

Never thought of it that way. But Serbia has these very same weapons. Plus, I doubt there will be a new war in Kosovo and if there is it seem's NATO is withdrawing and it will be upto the EU to deal with the situation. Given how the EU can't respond to anything Serbia will be able to do as it wants so long as we do not expell large quantities of Shqiptars right away.

In the case Serbia - after EU/NATO troops have left Kosovo - invades there and starts doing the same they did in the late nineties, I have little doubts there will be airstrikes against Serbia again. Indeed, I think it is unrealistic Serbia will expell many Albanians, nevertheless I do not expect Serbia will ever get full sovereignity over Albania again. Maybe over some enclaves.

Originally Posted by A Few Acres of Snow

Hezbollah is totally within its rights to defend itself with these Russian anti-tank weapons.

Hezbollah consciously started this war, the only one being legitimated to defend Lebanon is the Lebanese army.

Originally Posted by A Few Acres of Snow

What does Kosovo have to do with this?

Very simple, the majority of Albanians are Muslims, certain Muslim groups equip Albanian as well as Bosnian Muslim fighters with weapons, to be prepared for the next round.

Originally Posted by A Few Acres of Snow

The Israeli and American militaries are burdened by laws? What laws?

Have you ever served in an army?
Israeli as well as American forces are instructed to cause a little damage as possible to civilians when hitting targets.
There are several laws regulating warfare, it seems you have no idea what would happen if Israel or USA's hardliners would fight the war as they would like to.

Originally Posted by A Few Acres of Snow

They don't seem very restrained to me.

But in fact they are. The armed forces can not be held responsible for human shields used by several militias, and media reports about civilian victims are misleading since these reports do not mention these civilians were combattants or not

[Menydh]

What a nation of hypocrite whiners they are!

U.S. Arms Still Dominate International Market, Russia Leader to Developing World

Center for Defense Information
November 15, 2006

The primary market for U.S. arms in the developing world continues to be the Near East, and the United States remains the largest arms exporter to that region (defined as Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen). Between 2002 and 2005, U.S. transfer agreements with the Near East came to $17.6 billion, or almost 56 percent of total U.S. agreements with the developing world, which marks a decrease from the period from 1998 to 2001, during which almost 74 percent ($26.1 billion) of U.S. agreements with the developing world were with Near East countries.

Amnesty: Two thirds of Israeli arms – for exports

Israel News
February 10, 2006

Report issued by organization focuses on contribution of global arms trade to escalation in worldwide violence; mentions Israel, Palestinians and Hizbullah, among many others, as violators of human rights. According to Amnesty, Israel remains dominant player in international weapons market

A report compiled by Amnesty International, OXFAM International, and IANSA (International Action Network on Small Arms) released Monday claims that in today's global world, the current tools used to oversee the arms market are no longer effective, and the inability of governments and international organizations to oversee the arms trade is causing an intensification of armed conflicts, poverty, violence against women, and other violations of human rights

Among the many examples given by the report, Israel is mentioned several times as an alleged culprit in these violations. One example
is the sales of weaponry from the United States to Israel, which in turn uses these arms in its military actions in the Palestinian territories, resulting in the death and injury of thousands, all in violation of the international humanitarian law. At the same time, the report claims, "Armed Palestinian groups are using rockets, bomb belts, and other explosive devices to kill and maim hundreds of Israelis, and the Lebanese armed group Hizbullah who fired rockets to Israeli population centers in the north of Israel."

Another example regarding Israel is the selling of the US made Apache attack helicopter to Israel. According to the report, the helicopter includes sub-systems manufactured by companies in Britain, Holland, and Ireland, which under the European Union regulations should not have allowed the direct sales of these arms systems to Israel.

Israel tops 'developing countries' list

The report also mentions the role of the largest industrialized nations, in the international arms trade. According to the report, five countries, all of them members in the G8, and four of them permanent members in the UN Security Council, are the world leaders in arms and military equipment trade. These countries are the United States, Britain, Russia, France, and Germany who are responsible for about 82 percent of the arms trade in the world.

As for Israel, the report says that it remains a dominant player in the international arms market, with two thirds of its weapons production going to export. The report also says that Israel tops the list of developing countries which managed to have companies included in the list of the 100 leading arms companies in the world. Israel has four companies in the list: Elbit, RAFAEL, IMI (Israel Military Industries), and IAI (Israel Aircraft Industries). Alongside Israel, the rest of the developing countries that have companies in the top 100 list are India, South Korea, and China with three companies, and Brazil, Singapore, and South Africa with one company each.

The report clarifies that weapons alone do not encourage violence and that many countries need to protect their citizens by law. But the report tries to emphasize that the availability of weapons, due to poor enforcement, is the reason why weapons get to the hands of inappropriate individuals and results in the escalation in violence around the world.

See also: Arming the Occupation: Israel and the Arms Trade

[Arthur Gordon Pym]

Originally Posted by Aptrgangr

Hezbollah consciously started this war, the only one being legitimated to defend Lebanon is the Lebanese army.

It seems not to be true. That was the Israeli version of the story. According to newest data (not from Islamic sources), there was an Israeli inroad into the Lebanese, Hizbullah-controlled area and Hizbullah penetrated into the Israeli territory in retaliation. They bit the bait, I would say. And there were plans for invasion of Lebanon much before the attack on Israeli territory perpetrated by Hizbullah.

Hizbullah was (is) legally in control of south Lebanon, with the approval of the Lebanese government (I don't say these things because I like or dislike Hizbullah, but just for the sake of truth)

article (in Italian)

Originally Posted by Aptrgangr

Israeli as well as American forces are instructed to cause a little damage as possible to civilians when hitting targets.
There are several laws regulating warfare, it seems you have no idea what would happen if Israel or USA's hardliners would fight the war as they would like to.

But in fact they are. The armed forces can not be held responsible for human shields used by several militias, and media reports about civilian victims are misleading since these reports do not mention these civilians were combattants or not

The war in Lebanon was a mass butchery of civilans (more than 1000 deaths). Shooting civilian vans...they had all rocket-launchers on their roofs, surely. And all those strikes of pure revenge in Iraq or shooting everything that moves...

[Errigal]

Originally Posted by Aptrgangr

Hezbollah consciously started this war, the only one being legitimated to defend Lebanon is the Lebanese army.

Israeli as well as American forces are instructed to cause a little damage as possible to civilians when hitting targets.
There are several laws regulating warfare, it seems you have no idea what would happen if Israel or USA's hardliners would fight the war as they would like to.

But in fact they are. The armed forces can not be held responsible for human shields used by several militias, and media reports about civilian victims are misleading since these reports do not mention these civilians were combattants or not

I honestly don't know how you can look at Israel's war in Lebanon last summer, the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Israel's occupation of Palestine and say the problem is too much restraint. That is bizarre. Why do you prefer Israel and the United States to the Arabs defending their own land?

[Arthur Gordon Pym]

Originally Posted by A Few Acres of Snow

I honestly don't know how you can look at Israel's war in Lebanon last summer, the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Israel's occupation of Palestine and say the problem is too much restraint. That is bizarre. Why do you prefer Israel and the United States to the Arabs defending their own land?

Yankee Judaea keeps the whole Europe under its occupation as well.