Since the outbreak of the conflict in October last year, Israel has been attacking terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah with various weapons, including high-tech weaponry. However, Israel recently surprised many by using trebuchets, a medieval siege weapon, to launch fireballs into Lebanon. But what is the reason behind this unconventional move?
According to reports from the Israeli newspaper “Israel Times,” footage circulating on social media since June 13 showed Israeli soldiers using trebuchets to launch incendiary bombs into Lebanon, attempting to set fire to the bushes within the country to prevent Hezbollah militants from using them as hiding spots.
This action is believed to assist the Israeli military in identifying Hezbollah terrorists attempting to infiltrate the country and launch attacks on the border. The footage shows the trebuchet being several meters high and mounted on a small wheeled trailer. After one incendiary bomb flew over a concrete wall, the commanding officer instructed the soldiers to add more incendiary bombs. Another soldier was seen holding a fire extinguisher, presumably to prevent any accidental fires.
In a statement provided to the Israel Broadcasting Corporation (Kan) by the Israeli military, it was clarified that this tactic is a regional practice of military units stationed near the Lebanese border and not a widely adopted tool. The statement emphasized the challenges posed to the Israeli Defense Forces by the presence of large stones, bushes, and dense thorn vegetation along the Lebanese border region.
The trebuchet is a powerful catapult used in the medieval era. With the introduction of gunpowder, their usage significantly declined around the mid-15th century.
Over the past eight months, Hezbollah terrorists from Lebanon have been attacking northern Israel with weapons such as rockets, causing tens of thousands of Israelis to be displaced. In response, Israel has utilized weapons like drones.
Due to the ongoing skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah terrorists on the border, both parties face the risk of wildfires due to the use of incendiary weapons. The possibility of wildfires spreading uncontrollably poses a threat to both sides.