On Sunday, Israeli forces recently released footage of the “Iron Sting” system launching a mortar bomb to destroy a rocket launcher in its first-ever use in an operation.
The Iron Sting is described as “an innovative and accurate mortar bomb,” is one of several varieties of weapons being used to thwart dozens of terrorists, posted the Israeli Air Force on X, formerly known as Twitter, along with the video it showed the 120mm mortar demolishing an enemy rocket launcher. The Israeli army used the weapons system combined with the Israeli Air Force.
The weapons system uses a “precise, laser and GPS guided mortar munition” to engage targets in urban, dense environments while “reducing the possibility of collateral damage and preventing injury to non-combatants,” said Elbit Systems, the developer of the system, said in a news release in 2021.
“Its operational use will revolutionize ground warfare and equip battalions with organic, accurate, and effective firepower,” said the release.
The weapon system testing was finished in March 2021.
“[The Iron Sting] also fulfills the IDF’s needs, adapting combat capabilities to contend with enemies hidden within civilization, urban environments, while meeting the legal and moral standards set by the State of Israel,” said then-Defense Minister Benny Gantz in the release.
Israeli forces have already conducted thousands of air strikes in the West Bank and Gaza following Hamas’ terrorist attack on October 7.
Over 1,400 people in Israel have been killed in the war, most of which were civilians murdered during the Hamas attack. Over 4,300 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry, which Hamas runs.
Although the Israeli Defense Force has made preparations for a possible ground assault into Gaza, they have yet to move forward.
A ground assault will likely lead to a dramatic increase in casualties on both sides in urban fighting.
Israel’s Commando Brigade has eliminated over 100 terrorists in Gaza since the war began
“Thanks to the precision, lethality, and expertise of the fighters, the Maglan unit, in cooperation with the Air Force, took out dozens of terrorists with a variety of means, one of which is the precision mortar ‘Iron Sting,’” said Colonel Omer Cohen, commander of the Commando Brigade.
“From the beginning of the war, the Commando Brigade fought fiercely against the enemy’s brutal attack and eliminated over 100 terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Regular and reservist Maglan, Egoz, and Duvdevan units will get to any place and any enemy and eliminate them. Together, we will win; I am sure of our soldiers and trust them,” said Cohen.
