Israel deploys giant balloons to counter Hezbollah

This balloon, named "Tal Shamayim" (Dewdrop of the Sky), is one of the highest visibility balloons of its kind.

The purpose of deploying the balloon is to monitor the border area as the conflict with Hezbollah escalates along the border with Lebanon.

The balloon system is a joint US-Israeli project, developed by the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the US Missile Defense Agency.

The Israeli Air Force will officially receive the airship in 2022.

“The Israeli Air Force faces significant threats in the northern theater and we must be prepared for any eventuality,” said Israeli Air Force Commander Major General Aluf Amikam Norkin at the time. “The new system is an important addition to our existing air control capabilities and enhances the Air Force’s ability to defend Israeli skies.”

The balloon system will help Israel detect incoming long-range missiles, cruise missiles and drones.

The reconnaissance balloon is manufactured by the American company TCOM. It has advanced radar and can fly at high altitudes, helping Israel detect and warn of threats early. It can carry 3.1 tons and has an operating altitude of over 3,000 meters.

Israel has an advanced air defense system thanks to heavy US funding. Israel's Iron Dome mobile air defense system received $1.6 billion in US funding to protect the country from Hamas' frequent rocket attacks.

Hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel flared up again after Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed 1,139 people.

Israel is accused by Hamas of killing some 22,000 Palestinians and displacing almost all of the territory's 2.3 million people in the subsequent war with Hamas.

The fighting has spread to neighboring countries as Hezbollah fired rockets and drones at Israel. Israel has retaliated with airstrikes in Lebanon.

Last week, a senior Hamas official, Saleh al-Arouri (who was protected by Hezbollah), was killed by Israel in Beirut, showing that the force is expanding its battlefield.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has continuously sent many officials to the Middle East to use diplomatic measures to try to prevent the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Earlier, on January 6, Hezbollah admitted to launching more than 60 rockets at an Israeli military base in the Meron area, describing the attack as an initial response to the Israeli drone that assassinated Mr. al-Arouri.

On the same day, the Israeli military said that immediately after sirens sounded across northern Israel, the Israeli military identified about 40 launches from Lebanon into the Meron area of ​​northern Israel and the Israel Defense Forces responded.

The Times of Israel quoted Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as warning on January 5 that time was running out for diplomatic efforts to end tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. According to the newspaper, Minister Gallant stated that Israel would soon have no choice but to launch a large-scale military offensive against Hezbollah. Gallant made the statement during a situation assessment meeting at the Northern Command base of the Israel Defense Forces.

Meanwhile, the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, Hassan Nasrallah, warned of a swift response on the battlefield after al-Arouri's assassination. Nasrallah made it clear that this was a serious incident that could not go unanswered, as it took place in a Hezbollah stronghold. Hezbollah now accuses Israel of being behind al-Arouri's assassination.