Hamas and its arsenal of "homemade" weapons.

CNN analyzed a range of photos and videos of Hamas militia groups during the surprise attack to identify the types of weapons the organization used. Many of these weapons were modified Russian or Chinese weapons, collected from battlefields decades ago.

An expert described the meticulously planned Hamas attack, in which the organization infiltrated via land, sea, and air, and how this attack represented a shift in Hamas's overall military strategy. Many believe that Hamas's weapons may have been supplied by Iran, after the US government confirmed that the state had provided Hamas with cash, military equipment, and training programs.

This organization operates in Gaza, a strip of land along the Mediterranean coast bordering Egypt and Israel. Gaza has been isolated from the outside world since 2007 after Hamas seized control of the territory, prompting Israel and Egypt to erect a blockade around it.

Although Hamas's weaponry falls far short of Israeli standards in terms of sophistication – given that the Israeli military can purchase some of the most modern weapons manufactured in the US – the influence of these weapons gives Hamas unprecedented destructive power.

Former U.S. Army Major Mike Lyons, referring to the surface-to-air missiles that appeared in some of the videos analyzed by CNN, commented: "To me, they are weapons of mass destruction."

Machine gun

Images analyzed by CNN show Hamas using several DShK machine guns, a Soviet-made .50 caliber machine gun, modified and mounted on pickup trucks.

This type of weapon typically requires two people to operate it, one holding the magazine and the other controlling the gun. However, Lyons argues that the machine guns used by Hamas have been modified to allow a single person to operate them effectively.

"A person can sit down and pull the trigger on this machine gun with one hand, and do something else with the other hand. These weapons have a high destructive potential."

These weapons are designed to penetrate the hulls of military vehicles and aircraft, and are typically used by professional armies. They are usually mounted on tripods or armored vehicles and used as defensive weapons.

John Spencer, chairman of the Urban Warfare Research Committee at the Institute for Modern Warfare Studies at West Point, said: “It is very rare to see this type of weapon being sent to village areas without a military presence.”

AK-47

Photo: CNN/Video on WhatsApp

In numerous photos and videos analyzed by CNN, Hamas members are shown armed with AK-47s. Effective, easy to use, and readily available, experts say this is a weapon favored by militia groups.

Stephen Biddle, a professor and defense expert at Columbia University, described the weapon's widespread use: "When the trigger is held down, they can empty the entire magazine. They have a high rate of fire. Hamas doesn't need to try to find a supply of this weapon."

A video on Hamas's Telegram channel shows soldiers attacking an Israeli army outpost, mostly armed with AK-47s.

Many experts have mentioned changes that some organizations could make to their AK-47s, such as removing certain parts to make them lighter and easier to use.

Lyons said, "They often modify them because they are only interested in their practical effectiveness."

Spencer said that similar modifications demonstrate that the forces using them are unprofessional but still effective.

"If these modifications were standardized, it would be a sign of military professionalism. They could make some minor changes to older equipment to make it perform similarly, or even better, and be easier to use."

According to many experts, some of the AK-47s may be Soviet-era weapons left behind after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s. Others may be Chinese weapons smuggled into the organization's network. Some may have come from Iraq, where Saddam Hussein once purchased thousands of AK-47s. A quantity of personal weapons from Libya also appeared on the black market in the 2010s.

According to Lyons, this is a difficult situation for countries with modern armies that have to leave equipment behind on the battlefield – it could fall into the hands of other organizations.

Lyons said: “These videos look like they were filmed 40 years ago. The weapons are exactly the same. They are simply designed, and designed to operate in the harshest environments in the world.”

Missile

Photo: CNN/Telegram

Hamas has long relied on missiles to wage asymmetric warfare against Israel. On Saturday, October 7th, the organization claimed to have launched 5,000 missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome system.

However, the sheer number of missiles at times overwhelmed the Iron Dome, a state-of-the-art system equipped with radar to detect and shoot down the missiles.

Some rockets even landed in residential homes in Israel without detonating. In a short video posted on Telegram, a man filmed a Hamas rocket piercing a bedroom ceiling. A British researcher at Calibre Obscura, a weapons identification website, said the rocket appeared to be an unexploded Qassam or Saraya al-Quds rocket. The researcher also noted that these rockets are named after the groups that use them: Hamas's military wing, also known as the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and the al-Quds Brigades of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Hamas manufactures most of the Qassam rockets it uses, as it is too difficult to transport large rockets through the blockade around the Gaza Strip. It remains unclear how the organization produces the rockets. In previous conflicts with Israel, Hamas has launched rockets made from old water pipes.

A senior Hamas official in Lebanon provided more details about the organization's weapons production capabilities in an interview with Russia Today's RT Arabic channel.

“We have local factories to produce everything, from missiles with ranges of 250km to 160km, 80km, and 10km. We have factories that produce mortars and mortar shells… We have factories that produce Kalashnikov rifles and ammunition for them. We produce ammunition with permission from Russia. And we produce it right here in Gaza.”

However, some former U.S. officials say there is almost no doubt that the weapons used in the October 7 attack were supplied and assisted in their assembly by Iran.

Former General Frank McKenzie stated: “Hamas did not develop its guidance systems and missiles in Gaza. They received assistance from outside. And that technological assistance in assembling them could only have come from Iran and nowhere else.”

Grenade

Photo: CNN/Jack Guez/Getty Images

In the initial phase of the attack, Hamas fighters used grenades as they invaded Israel.

In a dashcam video obtained by CNN, a soldier throws a grenade into a bomb shelter near the Nova music festival site.

Former Lieutenant David Benson, who served in Iraq and now works for a private security firm, said: “They immediately sought shelter, which is what experienced people would do.” He added that the video showed the soldiers were well-trained.

Several grenades appeared in photos published by Reuters on October 8. The photos showed Israeli soldiers investigating weapons placed on the sidewalk outside a police station in Sderot. Three experts said some of the devices appeared to be grenades.

It remains unclear whether Hamas manufactured or purchased these grenades, but the fact that the organization possesses them suggests they have been consolidating their arsenal for many years.

Benson said, "Grenades are very expensive, even for the U.S. military."

Drones

Photo: CNN/Hamas.

A video posted on Hamas's social media account shows an aerial view of a weapon that Hamas claims was dropped on Israeli soldiers by drone. CNN could not verify the authenticity of the video, but a similar weapon was used in the October 7 attack, when Hamas bombed automatic machine gun turrets at an Israeli border outpost.

Mr. Biddle said the drones attacked sensors monitoring the fence separating Gaza and Israel, indicating it was a planned attack. “Their primary objective wasn’t to cross the fence, but to destroy the sensors.”

Spencer said these signals indicate that other states are providing not only aid but also training programs on how to use the equipment and select the right type of bomb for the target.

“The drones were the most surprising element. It’s not unusual that they possess them, but the ability to carry out such sophisticated coordinated attacks and even record videos to post online, in my opinion, is a clear indication that another state is funding Hamas militia groups.”

In another video posted by Hamas, a drone placed a timed improvised explosive device on a remote-controlled machine gun at an Israeli outpost at Kfar Aza.

Paragliding

Photo: CNN/Hamas.

In another Hamas video, soldiers appear strapped into a parachute and glide into Israeli territory during the initial phase of the October 7 offensive as rockets were fired from the Beit Lahia area of ​​Gaza.

Paragliders, which utilize wind power for propulsion, along with motorized paragliders, are often used by thrill-seeking tourists. They are rarely used in warfare for a number of fairly obvious reasons.

"Paragliders are very fragile and lack maneuverability."

Sean Elliott, deputy director of Industry and Legal at the Experimental Flight Vehicles Association, agrees with this view.

"They have quite limited capabilities. They require very specific conditions and a suitable environment. They have many weaknesses."

But these devices have been used before. In late 1987, a Palestinian soldier using a glider – similar to a paraglider but with a rigid frame – flew into Israeli airspace. The soldier, armed with grenades, a pistol, and a rifle, killed six Israeli soldiers and wounded seven others before being killed himself.

More recently, in 2012, an individual suspected of being an al Qaeda terrorist in Spain was found to possess three paragliders and was being trained to use them.

Spencer argued that Hamas did not purchase these paragliders on its own and suspected that the organization was supplied with and trained to use them by a donor outside Gaza.

Bulldozer

Photo: CNN/Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa/Reuters.

Many experts have highlighted the improvisational nature of the attacks carried out by Hamas. Their soldiers used whatever equipment the organization could get its hands on.

Images from the October 7 attack show a bulldozer being used to demolish the fence separating Gaza and Israel.

In some videos, Hamas fighters were seen driving IDF vehicles and using Israeli weapons that were likely captured during the early stages of the attack.

Some reports also indicate that Hamas soldiers have been wearing Israeli uniforms to create chaos within Israeli forces – a tactic the organization has employed before.

Nguyen Quang Minh (according to CNN)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/hamas-va-kho-vu-khi-tu-che-a631508.html