Antitank missiles fired from Lebanon targeting Israeli armored vehicles.

The conflict between Israel and Palestinian extremist groups has intensified, with significant losses on both sides. This complex conflict also involves other regional actors, notably Hezbollah in Lebanon. Anti-tank missiles were reportedly fired from southern Lebanon targeting Israeli armored vehicles. In response, an observation post located in Lebanon was hit using an attack helicopter.
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Israeli M113 Armored Personnel Carrier at the Southern Lebanese border (Picture source: Twitter account of Sonar Media Center )

Hezbollah, a Shiite militant organization backed by Iran, recently targeted an Israeli tank and other armored vehicles like M113s with a guided missile. In response, the Israeli army struck a Hezbollah observation post. No injuries have been reported. Hezbollah expressed its support for the Palestinians, stating that its "weapons and rockets" are with them. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) responded by targeting a Hezbollah observation post, in addition to their ongoing operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli battle tanks are from the Merkava family, but different models exist. According to the Military Balance 2022, the Israeli army has 400 operational Merkava Mk4s and also has 700 Merkava Mk3s and 200 Merkava Mk4s in stock.

The Merkava Mk3 is a main battle tank that was commissioned in December 1989 and is currently used by the armed forces of Israel and Morocco. Designed by MANTAK between 1985 and 1989 and built by IMI, 780 units of this armored vehicle have been produced, with a variant known as Sholef.

The Merkava Mk3 is designed to accommodate a crew of four, including a tank commander, a driver, a gunner, and a loader. It has a length of 7.60 meters, extending to 9.63 meters when the cannon is included, a width of 3.70 meters, and a turret height of 2.65 meters. It weighs between 63.5 and 65 tons in combat configuration.

One aspect of the Merkava Mk3 is its modular composite armor, offering robust protection to the crew. In terms of armament, the tank is equipped with a smoothbore MG251 120mm cannon capable of storing between 48 and 50 shells. It also has secondary armament consisting of three 7.62mm MAG machine guns with a total of 10,000 rounds, as well as a 60mm Commando mortar capable of holding between 24 and 30 shells.

The Merkava Mk3 is powered by an air-cooled V12 Teledyne Continental AVDS-1790-9AR diesel engine, delivering 1,200 horsepower at 2,400 rpm. The transmission is provided by an automatic Renk RK 304 gearbox, with four forward and two reverse gears. The suspension system uses vertical coil springs and rotary hydraulic dampers. In terms of road performance, the tank can reach a maximum speed of 55 to 58 km/h, with a power-to-weight ratio of 18.8 hp/ton. It has a fuel tank capacity of 1,100 liters, giving it a range of 500 kilometers.

The Merkava Mk4 represents a significant advancement over its predecessor, the Merkava Mk3. Commissioned on June 24, 2004, and exclusively used by the Israeli armed forces, this tank was designed by MANTAK and built by IMI, just like the Mk3. However, several key improvements distinguish the Mk4 from its predecessor.

Firstly, the Merkava Mk4 is slightly wider and taller than the Mk3, with a width of 3.72 meters and a turret height of 2.66 meters. Its length remains the same at 7.60 meters but extends to 9.04 meters with the cannon. The weight in combat configuration has also increased, reaching 72 tons for the Mk. 4M model.

In terms of armor, the Mk4 continues to use modular composite armor, but it is reasonable to assume that improvements have been made for better protection. The main armament remains a smoothbore 120mm cannon, but the MG251-LR model is used in the Mk4. The secondary armament has also been improved, now including two 7.62mm MAG machine guns, a heavy M2 machine gun, and a 60mm Commando mortar.

One of the most notable improvements is in the engine. The Merkava Mk4 is equipped with a liquid-cooled V12 General Dynamics GD883 diesel engine, delivering 1,500 horsepower at 2,400 rpm. The transmission has also been updated with an automatic Renk RK 325 gearbox, offering five forward and reverse gears. This increased power allows the tank to reach a maximum speed of 64 km/h on the road, with a power-to-weight ratio of 20.8 hp/ton.

In terms of fuel capacity and range, the Merkava Mk4 has a 1,400-liter tank, maintaining a range of 500 kilometers, similar to the Mk3. However, the increased tank capacity allows the tank to maintain this range despite its increased weight and power.

The situation in the Middle East is increasingly tense, with potential implications far beyond the borders of Israel and Palestine. Hezbollah's involvement in this conflict could signal a new phase with regional and international implications.

Israeli Merkava Mk4 Main Battle Tank at the Lebanese border (Picture source: Israeli MoD )