Hezbollah uses Tharallah twin anti-tank missiles to counter APS of Israeli Merkava tanks.

As reported by PressTV on October 25, 2023, Israeli forces, utilizing drones and artillery units, have conducted a series of strikes in southern Lebanon as a response to Hezbollah's actions targeting Israeli assets. These hostilities included an attack on an Israeli Merkava tank by Hezbollah, who used their Tharallah Twin Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) specifically designed to counter the Trophy Active Protection System (APS) mounted on Israeli Merkava tanks.
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The Tharallah anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system is specifically designed to overcome the Trophy Active Protection System (APS) used on Israeli Merkava tanks (Picture source: ISWNews)

According to Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television news network, Israeli drones fired missiles in the vicinity of Kfarchouba village, the heights of Halta village, and the Bistara Farm near the occupied Shebaa Farm on Wednesday. These airstrikes were in retaliation for Hezbollah's actions, including targeting the Branit barracks, another Israeli post near Naqoura town in southern Lebanon, and their attack on an Israeli battle tank near Avivim, resulting in casualties among the soldiers inside the Merkava tank. The city of Avivim is located less than a kilometer from the Blue Line, the border demarcation separating Lebanon and Israel.

Recent days have seen rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, leading to both sides engaging in cross-border attacks. Just a day prior, an Israeli helicopter strike targeted a position near the border town of Houla, following a missile launch from Lebanon that struck an Israeli military position. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties in the attack on the Israeli military position.

Hezbollah has issued a warning, expressing its intent to align with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas and its allies if the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intensify their aggression on Gaza or if foreign military forces intervene to assist Israel in the conflict.

The Tharallah Twin Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) system, which made headlines during Hezbollah's anti-tank unit exercises in Lebanon on August 11, 2023, represents a new addition to Hezbollah's anti-tank capabilities. The Tharallah system, equipped with 9M133 Kornet-M Russian anti-tank guided missiles known for their accuracy and armor-penetrating capabilities, features two launchers, allowing for the rapid launch of two missiles in succession. This strategic capability is designed to potentially overcome the Trophy Active Protection System (APS) used on Israeli Merkava tanks, which is designed to intercept and neutralize incoming threats.

Hezbollah's strategy involves exploiting the reload time of the Trophy APS, which requires at least 1.5 seconds between interceptions to reload effectively. This leaves the system vulnerable to dual missiles fired with a small time gap of approximately a quarter of a second, potentially allowing the second missile to damage the tank. The Tharallah's tandem-shaped warhead can penetrate armored targets effectively, including those with approximately 1.2 m of rolled homogenous armor (RHA) equivalent. The first warhead ignites any explosive reactive armor (ERA) on the target, while the second warhead is intended to penetrate the tank's armor.

The Kornet-M is a Russian-made anti-tank guided missile used in the Tharallah system can be armed with various warhead types and has a range of up to 10 km. The Tharallah system operates both during the day and at night and is designed for easy transport on the battlefield. Visually, the Tharallah system consists of two Kornet launchers mounted on a quadripod. The operator kneels under the launchers and is protected from the weather and the Kornet's back blast by a small, easily removable shelter.

Hezbollah reportedly acquired the Tharallah ATGM system in 2015, and it has since been used with positive results in various battles, particularly in the mountainous regions of Southern Lebanon. However, the system has its limitations, notably its ammunition capacity of only three shots on each side, underscoring the importance of efficient targeting and deployment.

The name "Thar Allah" is of significant cultural and religious importance, associated with Imam al-Husayn, a prominent figure in Shia Islam, symbolizing divine retribution for the bloodshed of Imam Husayn. This title represents the concept of seeking vengeance for a murder, and it pertains to avenging Imam Husayn's martyrdom, a central concept within the beliefs of Shia Islam, which is the branch of Islam followed by Hezbollah militants.