Conflict zone: Israel-Lebanon

A contest of arsenals

3 min read

Updated On: Jul 10 2026 | 7:45 AM IST

Israeli tanks on the border with Lebanon in northern Israel on March 21, 2026. Photo: Reuters

The latest flareup between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon, in a decades-long conflict has brought renewed attention to the increasing military capabilities on both sides.

The conflict has repeatedly reshaped the security landscape of West Asia, particularly when the region remains on edge amid overlapping clashes. A ceasefire agreement was brokered by the United States (US) between Israel and Lebanon in June.

The recent confrontation has been marked by the deployment of increasingly sophisticated military technologies and unconventional weapon systems. The first image reportedly features Israel’s Merkava main battle tanks. It is a heavily armoured battle tank and anchors the ground posture of the country against Hezbollah. With a payload capacity of 48 rounds, it is currently in its fourth iteration and was first deployed in the late 1970s. The tank was reportedly attacked by Hezbollah’s first-person view (FPV) drone in May.

According to US-based Human Rights Watch, Israel used artillery-fired white phosphorus munitions against Hezbollah, first in March. The second picture is reportedly of white phosphorus, a chemical substance dispersed in artillery shells, bombs, and rockets that ignites when exposed to oxygen.

News in brief: Western Europe

An explosion of what appears to be white phosphorus fired by the Israel Defense Forces on the Lebanese side of the Israel-Lebanon border on May 10, 2026. Photo: Reuters

The third picture is of the anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), which have been among Hezbollah’s most important battlefield weapons against Israel for nearly two decades. ATGMs can be launched from aircraft or land vehicles or by infantry. Hezbollah has developed an ATGM arsenal using Russian, Iranian, and Syrian-supplied systems.

A Hezbollah anti-tank missile launcher and missiles found by Israeli troops in southern Lebanon on April 15, 2026. Photo: Israel Defense Forces

The Hermes 900, deployed by Israel, featured next is an advanced medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of operating over both land and sea. Manufactured by Elbit Systems, it is designed for tactical as well as strategic missions and is equipped with internal installation bays and multiple under-wing hardpoints.

A variant of Hermes 900 deployed by Israel against Hezbollah in 2026. Photo: Elbit Systems

The last picture showcases of FPV drones used by Hezbollah in the ongoing conflict. This UAV is controlled through fibre optics and loaded with explosives, operating without a radio signal that Israel’s electronic warfare jamming systems can detect. These are equipped with high-resolution optical cameras, allowing the drones to reach distant targets.

A first-person view drone with fibre optic cable over the border from Lebanon to Israel on May 19, 2026. Photo: Reuters

The over four-decade long conflict between the two sides has been continuously shaped by evolving war strategies, adding to instability in the region.

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