ANALYSIS: Hezbollah still has thousands of rockets

[tocqueville]

By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent

Hezbollah adopted a murderous tactic Thursday. On Wednesday, when a barrage of 230 rockets hit Israel, most people remained in shelters. So on Thursday, Hezbollah sent a drizzle of rockets throughout the day. Then, at 4 P.M., as people emerged from the shelters for air, a heavy volley arrived, killing eight.

It was the worst strike since the rocket landed in a train depot in Haifa on July 16. By evening, Nasrallah was already threatening to fire Zelzal missiles at Tel Aviv should Israel resume its bombardment of Shi'ite neighborhoods in Beirut.

The strikes on the home front are becoming worse as the IDF sends more and more brigades into Lebanon. Launchings from areas in which the army is operating have been reduced by half, but Hezbollah combatants simply relocate to the next range of hills and fire from there.

The Israel Air Force strikes on Tyre have stopped the fire on Haifa, which has had a rocket-free week, but they have not done Acre any good. IAF commanders admit that Hezbollah still has thousands of Katyushas and hundreds of launchers, and the air force alone cannot deal with it.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/746334.html

[Rex]

1. Supposedly they still haven't used the 'big rocket'.

With help from Syria and Iran (and by extension Russia and China and I guess now Venezuela? North Korea? Dam the list is getting big), who knows what they can get their hands on. Hezbollah could have anything. I would like to say American Intel would know if they did, but they gave up looking for OBL...so I won't. I do have faith in Israeli Intel, I would hope they ain't as blind politically.

[Bucky]

3. Chavez is a little screwloose sometimes, but I doubt he helps Hezbollah

Seriously doubt it. Tom Clancy writes these pretty fun thrillers in which all of the US's enemies of the world collaborate and are willing to go to all ends just to take a shot at us and our allies. But that's a fantasy only. Just cause we dislike two parties in the world doesn't mean they'll work well together--unless you give them a really good reason too (see "Bush Doctrine").

[acmejack]

4. The "Big Rocket"?

Can you supply more information about this weapon please? I must profess ignorance about this, I have heard nothing about it.

[TomClash]

5. It's what Bush thinks he has in his pants nt

[Sherman A1]

2. Hezbollah

really wants a ground fight in urban terrain. One that can cause extensive losses to the Israeli Army. The rocket barrage and attacks are sort of a "come and get me" tactic in my opinion. They are causing some damage but nothing that will cause Israel to disappear.

[FlavaKreemSnak]

6. I have a question about Iran and Syria and Hezbollah

If Iran and Syria are supposed to be helping Hezbollah, why do they only give them these rockets? I know they kill people, but even one of the commentators or experts or something on Fox News said they were not much more than big firecrackers.

So why don't Iran and Syria give them more powerful weapons? I know they can't give them like F-16s and bunker busters like America gives to Israel, and maybe Syria doesn't really have anything, but doesn't Iran have something a little better than Katusha rockets to give?