Reports have emerged that IDF troops may have used a trebuchet to launch flaming projectiles into Lebanon, as tensions rise in the region with Hezbollah. A video circulating on social media shows the trebuchet in action, surrounded by soldiers as flaming projectiles pass over a wall identified as being located on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
The trebuchet is an ancient war weapon that was commonly used during medieval sieges to launch projectiles and destroy fortifications. Despite being described as a “local initiative” by the Israeli Defense Forces, its use has not been widely reported according to reports. It’s possible that the trebuchet is being used to clear vegetation along the border in order to better identify Hezbollah members attempting to cross it.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated since the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah has been supporting Hamas, leading to exchanges of fire with the Israeli army from Lebanon. This violence has resulted in casualties on both sides, with hundreds dead in Lebanon and a number of fatalities in Israel. The attacks have intensified since the death of a high-ranking Hezbollah commander in an Israeli strike, leading to retaliatory attacks on northern Israel from the Lebanese side. The trebuchet is seen as a tool for the Israeli army to respond to threats along the border and from Hezbollah.
