Israeli research center: "Meron" attack a reminder of vulnerability
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The Israeli Alma center published an article that analyzes the weaknesses of the "Meron" defense as well as the Israeli air force in general.
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Scenes of Hezbollah targeting the “Meron” air control base of the Israeli media (Military Media of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon)
According to an article published on the Israeli Alma Center website, a research center dedicated to researching the "security challenges on Israel's northern border with Lebanon and Syria," the attack on the "Meron" base was considered a reminder of the "vulnerability of stationary Air Force sites to precision-guided munition (PGM) from adversaries, namely Hezbollah and Iran."
"Meron" base entered the long list of Israeli targets struck by the Resistance in Northern Occupied #Palestine.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 6, 2024
Here's all you need to know about the base which was struck today with 62 rockets and missiles by the Lebanese Resistance.
A thread🧵1/9 pic.twitter.com/2eBv1xJn0R
The attack on "Meron" marked the first time that the base, a strategic center for the Israeli regime, and a primary intelligence and military command hub on the northern front, was targeted during the ongoing escalations between the Resistance and the Israeli forces.
Earlier, the Israeli Walla! news website said that Hezbollah's initial response to the assassination of Palestinian Resistance leader martyr al-Arouri was only a "trailer" of what would happen if the party's "multidimensional threats expand."
Located just 8 kilometers from the blue line between Lebanon and occupied Palestine, "Meron" Base overlooks the Lebanese towns of Rmeish, Yaroun, and Maroun al-Ras in the central sector. It occupies the summit of Mount Jarmaq in northern occupied Palestine, making it the highest peak within the occupied territories.
Read: Why did Hezbollah strike the Israeli 'Meron' intel, airforce base?
According to the Resistance statement, "Meron" primarily serves as an aerial surveillance center.
The article's author questions why the critical site was left vulnerable to Hezbollah's missiles.
"Why is this critical Air Force site not protected by a net, a smoke screen, or even active or other electronic/electro-optical defense systems? he wonders."
He details that various issues arise concerning the durability and survivability of the Israeli Air Force's remaining permanent facilities in the face of precise stand-off weapons.
He speculates that the Israeli Air Force's vulnerability stems from its complete reliance on a set of fixed, well-known, and targeted locations.
He explains that these installations are susceptible to hits by stand-off precision-guided munitions to numerous cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles that may come from any direction and while 2 or 3 missiles are manageable, dozens of simultaneous missiles "becomes problematic."
The author admits that Hezbollah's progress in gaining accurate weapons systems is "consistent, systematic, and quite rapid," warning that they may soon have thousands of precision-guided munitions.
He further notes that if thousands of missiles and UAVs get launched, the "operational persistence" of the Israeli air force would be challenged.
The author concludes that the "Meron" attack was a serious sign to reevaluate the Israeli capability in the face of evolving and "precise threats."
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
