Last night, Hezbollah published documented evidence of its attack on an Israeli Air Force base located on top of Mount Miron in the Upper Galilee. In the published materials, it is clearly visible that both antennas were damaged, as well as two of the three “domes” (“fairings” — weatherproof spherical structures that protect radar antennas) located on the mountain. These fairings provide certain protection for the detection and early warning systems inside.
The IDF has not denounced reports that facilities at this important base were indeed damaged. It appears that the evidence published by Hezbollah is not a fabrication.
Moreover, it is likely that yesterday’s activation by the army of the “Sky Dew” system — a giant early warning balloon carrying dozens of advanced detection and warning systems — was precisely because of the damage to the systems at the Mount Miron base and was a replacement for them.
It is still not entirely clear what exactly the enemies hit the “domes” with. From the evidence published by Hezbollah, it can be concluded that they used long-range anti-tank missiles of the Kornet-M type (Russian anti-tank guided missiles which are an improved version of the 9M133 Kornet anti-tank guided missile with an extended range and improved warhead). These improved missiles have a range of up to ten kilometers.
Mount Miron is located more than eight kilometers from the border but since the base is on top of the mountain and the launch was obviously not directly from the border, the missile’s trajectory was obviously more than eight kilometers.
Hitting the antennas and fairings on Mount Miron requires that the IDF should properly inspect why there were no defense systems deployed around it.
Previously, metal nets of various types were installed at Lebanese bases to protect them from anti-tank missiles.
The same could have been done at Mount Miron. Moreover, these relatively simple defenses could be installed in such a way as not to interfere with electronic early detection systems (e. g., using a warning system that, upon detecting the approach of anti-tank missiles, triggers the “opening” of the protective net).
Also on Mount Miron could have been placed complexes of defense against anti-tank missiles similar to the domestic systems of active tank defense “Windbreaker” or “Porcupine Needle”. It is hard to say why this has not been done so far.
Good news to us.