Hezbollah Drone Attack, North Korea-Russia Alliance

THE WAR NEWSLETTER — OCT 14 2024

Good morning. Today’s update covers the Hezbollah suicide drone that struck an Israeli military base and North Korean military forces coming to support Russia.

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Map of today’s newsletter:

• 🇮🇱 Hezbollah drone strikes IDF base

• ⚔️ A disposable anti-tank rocket launcher

• 🇺🇦 North Korean forces join Russia against Ukraine

1 - ISRAEL

1 thing to know

A drone strike killed 4 Israeli soldiers in northern Israel.

The context 

On Sunday night, a suicide drone launched by the Hezbollah terrorist group flew from Lebanon into Israel fully undetected. The drone hit a military base in northern Israel, killing four IDF soldiers and wounding 58 others. The drone struck a dining hall as soldiers were gathering to eat at the base. 

An IDF investigation discovered that the drone escaped detection by flying close to the ground, making defense forces think it had crashed.

Hezbollah has threatened to increase their attacks against Israel - which have occurred basically nonstop since the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023 - if Israel does not withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon.

More from the region

In Lebanon, the IDF have discovered Hezbollah tunnels and weapons caches stationed very close to United Nations peacekeeping outposts. These tunnel sites would have taken years to build and were used to launch rockets across the border into Israel - making it very unlikely that the UN outposts didn’t know of their existence. 

In light of the recent missile attack from Iran, the President Biden has also authorized the deployment of an anti-missile defense system - along with around 100 troops to operate it - to Israel, where it will be used to help prevent further, more destructive attacks from Iran. 

In the news

• US sends missile defense system to Israel 

• Hezbollah weapons and tunnels near UN outposts

• Drone strike kills 4 soldiers

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TECH SPOTLIGHT: THE AT4 ROCKET LAUNCHER

The AT4 is a portable, shoulder-fired, anti-tank weapon developed by Swedish company Saab Bofors, and is widely used by military forces around the world, including the United States. It's a single-shot, disposable rocket launcher designed to attack tanks, armored vehicles, and helicopters. 

It launches an 84mm unguided projectile that can penetrate almost 18 inches of armor plate, and can support a variety of projectiles, including HEAT (high-explosive anti-tank), AST (anti-structure tandem-warheads), ER, HE (high explosive), HP, and RS (reduced sensitivity). Its single-shot design means that once fired, the launcher is discarded, eliminating the need for reloading.

What it’s used for

The AT4 is designed for ease of use and rapid deployment, making it suitable for infantry units operating in diverse environments. Weighing around 14.5 pounds, it allows soldiers to carry it easily while maintaining mobility on the battlefield. With its effective range and powerful warhead options, the AT4 is still in use today and remains an important piece of weaponry for ground forces.

2 - UKRAINE

1 thing to know

South Korean and Ukrainian officials report that North Korean soldiers are operating alongside Russian troops in Ukraine. 

The context 

A Ukrainian missile strike new Donetsk, which is currently occupied by Russian forces, reportedly killed several North Korean military officials, and reports have have continued to suggest that North Korean personnel are operating in Ukraine, with a Ukrainian military official saying that North Korean officers are observing and studying the battlefields in the occupied areas of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian official also stated that several thousand North Korean soldiers are training within Russia, and could be deployed to the frontlines, or to the border regions so that Russian troops could be freed for operations in Ukraine, by the end of 2024.

More from the region

US and European officials stated that India is now the second largest supplier of microchips, circuits, and other restricted technologies to Russia, alongside China.

Monthly Indian exports to Russia reportedly doubled to $60 million in early 2024, then increased to $95 million by mid-year, with about one fifth of these technologies now coming from India.

In the news

• North Korea working alongside Russia

• North Korea in Ukraine

• India Becomes No. 2 Supplier of Restricted Technology

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