The Israeli defense minister revealed yesterday (September 11) a military airfield in south Lebanon, used by Iran and Hezbollah. The airfield is located close to Qalaa’t Jabbur and Meidoun, about 20 km (12 miles) north of the border with Israel.
We have known Qalaa’t Jabbur for several years as a main Hezbollah training complex.
Our estimation is that the runway is mainly purposed for UAVs.
The Qala’at Jabour training complex is considered one of Hezbollah’s main training complexes. It is located near the town of Meidoun, in the border area between the Beqaa district and South Lebanon district, about 20 km north of Israel (Metula).
The complex includes accommodation and logistics areas, firing ranges, complexes that simulate open areas and urban terrain fighting, and more.
Iran and Hezbollah have built many airfields throughout Syria and Lebanon in the past years for the use of their “UAV army”. It should be noted that we are aware of many other UAV airfields, like the one in Qalaa’t Jabbur, both in Syria and Lebanon, used by Iran and Hezbollah (see below).
A photo analysis of the Qala’at Jabbur airstrip shows it is about 1200 meters (0.75 miles) long and 30 meters (100 ft) wide.
Although it is possible to use the entire length of the runway for takeoff, in both directions, there are some limitations for landing.
Landing from South to North- 1100 meters: UAVs and twin-engine light aircraft.
Landing from North to South- 800 meters: UAVs and light aircraft.
The stripes marked on the runway are threshold markings, which are an indicator of the beginning of the landing zone.
The Qala’at Jabbur area presents geographic/topographic obstacles that limit the size of the runway (a higher approach for landing is needed which leads to landing further along the runway).
