Hezbollah constructs own 'airfield' in Qusayr town: sources

A study prepared last years by former officers, who were part of one of the Hezbollah training teams due to military mission by thethe Syrian Air force, is providing more details about the Hezbollah drones and its own 'air force'.

Al-Mersad 1

(The named was quoted from The Holy Quran -Al-Fajr 14- ‘’For thy Lord is (as a Guardian) on a watch-tower.‘’

Its Iranian name is 'Muhajir-2', and it is the first Iranian-owned aircraft Hezbollah obtained in 2002. The aircraft weight is 85 kilograms and has a flight range of 50 kilometers. The aircraft can rise to a maximum altitude of 3300 meters. The aircraft can remain fly for a total of 90 minutes. The airplane flies at a speed of 200 km/h. The aircraft lands on wheels but it still needs a parachute for safe landing. The aircraft was manufactured by al-Quds company and Hezbollah has 4 reconnaissance aircraft and 2 training aircraft.

Al-Mersad 2

Its Iranian name is Muhajir-4. Hezbollah had owned this type of aircraft since 2003, and these were used in the war in 2006. The main difference between this type and Marsad-1, is that it is equipped with under gliders rather than not tires, it is launched using a rail track and requires a parachute to land effectively. Hezbollah owns 8 aircraft and 4 rail and Israel brought down one of these aircrafts at the previous point in time. 

Ayoub (Prophet Job)

The Iranian name is Shahid 129, and Hezbollah used it inside Israel in 2012. The incident was repeated in 2013 and resonated highly at the time due to the aircraft’s ability to travel long distances. This aircraft can carry 4 small rockets, it is 6 meters long, and its wings are 10.5 meters long. The aircraft weighs 450 kilograms, and it can carry a maximum load of 150 kilograms. The aircraft flies at a speed of 170 km/h, and it can fly for a maximum of 20 hours covering around 450 kilometers distance at an altitude of 18000 feet. 

Hezbollah had 4 of these aircrafts and Israel brought one down. 

Yasser (Maarab)

It is the Iranian Yaser aircraft, which is a small aircraft that the Iranians reinforced the party with since 2006. The number of these aircrafts at their disposal has increased since the start of their intervention in Syria. Hezbollah currently owns 8 of these airplanes. 

Small drones aircraft

These drones are Chinese-made, and Hezbollah obtained tens of them because of their low price as the price of 

a top quality model does not exceed 1000 US Dollars. In addition to their reconnaissance capabilities, these aircrafts can carry small bombs. Hezbollah used these aircrafts in the town of Khalsa in Aleppo. The Islamic State forces also use these aircrafts. 

Bombs 

The Lebanese militia uses China-made MCD-2 bombs, which are similar to those used by the Islamic State forces. 

Hezbollah’s first attack using an unmanned aircraft in Syrian territory was in 2014, where it was used in the Western Qalamoun. 

Suicidal Ababeel 

The unmanned aircraft can carry tied weights to hit targets and explode them. Hezbollah owns around 6 aircrafts of this type, and they can carry around 21 kilograms of explosives. 

Rami 1 Suicide

These are the Iranian Raad (Thunder)-1 aircrafts. The Party has 10 of this type, and these aircrafts are launched from the same aircraft bases as Marsad 1.

 LAUNCH BASES

A runway, a takeoff area and a command station were set up in the area north of the town of Iaat in the Beqaa Valley. The launch base is composed of an old abandoned landing strip which was prepared by the Party and an 

Aircraft direction headquarters.

Hezbollah, also, has established another helipad for the Shahid-29 around 10 kilometers south of Hermel. The aircrafts are stored in large warehouses around 2,5 kilometers west of the landing strip to hide them from Israeli monitoring.