Military equipment shortages proved deadly for Israeli troops

As discussions about potential Israeli military actions against Lebanon intensify within Israeli circles, concerns are rising about the preparedness and supply levels of Israeli occupation forces.

According to Channel 12, an Israeli broadcaster, the military’s current situation is “extremely perilous,” with significant shortages impacting various types of equipment.

While the Israeli military command has been denying these allegations over the past week, an extensive recent internal investigation has revealed otherwise, as reported by Channel 12.

Israeli regular, reserve, and volunteer forces have voiced their concerns to the broadcaster, highlighting shortages in critical military gear such as ballistic armor, helmets, optical sights, and bomb suits, all of which are essential for soldier safety.

Despite the lack of individual equipment among Israeli soldiers, a more alarming scenario has emerged. The broadcaster disclosed that the condition of the armory within a single Israeli formation led to drastically different battlefield outcomes.

The report indicates that Israeli military equipment, including armored vehicles and tanks, is subjected to varying standards, with some gear and systems falling short of military-grade quality.

In one specific scenario, which the broadcaster could only briefly cover due to military censorship, an Israeli unit with two types of armored equipment experienced casualties in the less armored system, while the better-armored system saved the crew in a similar situation.

Following months of conflict in Gaza, images and footage of outdated Israeli armored vehicles, previously stored as military reserves after a modernization phase, have resurfaced.

A recent Maariv report revealed startling information regarding the losses endured by Israeli armored forces. The newspaper reported that 500 armored vehicles of various types have been damaged since October 7, 2023. The subpar Zelda M113 armored personnel carrier (APC) has been more frequently deployed by occupation forces in the Gaza Strip and has also been observed near the Lebanon border.

In contrast to the weak armor of the M113, the Israeli Namer APC, with its armored hull based on the design of the Merkava 4 main battle tank, highlights the significant disparity between various Israeli equipment and systems.

Assuming the reports from both Israeli news outlets are accurate, a scenario in which armored and ground forces are deployed for offensive operations against Lebanon could prove even more costly for Israeli occupation forces.

Hezbollah’s extensive arsenal of precision-guided munitions, anti-tank missiles, and advanced combat engineering capabilities and tactics pose a substantial threat to any Israeli military readiness efforts.