THAAD, UNIFIL and Dragon Drones | 14 Oct 2024

Source: HT 

Why in News? 

Recently, the United States sent a THAAD battery to Israel, and Israeli tanks attacked UNIFIL in Lebanon.  

• In another development, dragon drones are being used by both sides in the Russia-Ukraine war. 

What is the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD)? 

• Overview of THAAD: THAAD is an advanced US anti-ballistic missile system designed to intercept and destroy short, medium, and intermediate-range missiles. 
  • It uses a "hit-to-kill" approach where an interceptor missile destroys its target by directly colliding with it, using sheer impact force rather than explosives. 
  • However, it cannot detect low flying objects like drones. 
• Development History: The US developed THAAD after Iraq's Scud missile attacks during the 1991 Gulf War, where many American soldiers were killed. 
• Deployment of THAAD: In 2008, the US deployed an early missile warning radar, a part of the THAAD system to Israel. Similar deployments were also made in 2012 and 2019 to boost Israel's ability to intercept missiles. 

What are Dragon Drones? 

• About Dragon Drones: Dragon drones are deadly UAVs equipped with thermite and rain down fire from sky. 
  • Thermite is a mixture of aluminium and iron oxide, developed to weld railroad tracks. 
• Working Mechanism of Dragon Drones: Thermite is ignited by an electrical fuse and triggers a self-sustaining reaction that is incredibly difficult to extinguish. 
  • It  can burn various materials, including military vehicles, trees, and even underwater. 
• Deployment in the Russia-Ukraine War: Ukrainian forces used them to ignite the vegetation that Russian troops use for cover exposing them to direct attack. 
  • Russia soon adopted the use of dragon drones in retaliation. 
• History of Thermite in Warfare: During World War I, German zeppelins (aircraft without wings) dropped thermite-laden bombs which were considered an innovation at the time. 
  • In World War II, both the Allied and Axis powers incorporated thermite into their incendiary bombs and hand grenades. 
  • Incendiary weapons are designed to ignite objects or cause burns and respiratory injuries through flame and heat. 
• Legal Status of Thermite in Warfare: Thermite use in war is not banned under international law, but using incendiary weapons against civilians is prohibited by the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.  
  • Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons restricts their use to military targets only. 

What is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)? 

• Breach UNIFIL Base: Two Israeli Merkava tanks burst through the gates of a UNIFIL base in southern Lebanon and released toxic smoke, leading to the illness of 15 UN peacekeepers. 
  • The Israeli Prime Minister urged the withdrawal of UNIFIL troops from Lebanon's combat zones, claiming their presence indirectly shields Hezbollah. 
• Violations of International Law: UNIFIL described Israel’s attacks as violations of international humanitarian law and Resolution 1701, which ensures peacekeepers' freedom of movement.  
• UNIFIL's Role: Established in 1978, UNIFIL is responsible for enforcing Resolution 1701, which mandates that only Lebanese state forces and UNIFIL be present between the Blue Line and the Litani river. 
  • Resolution 1701  was adopted unanimously in 2006, and aims to end hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. 
• Blue Line: The Blue Line extends 120 km along Lebanon's southern frontier and Israel's northern border.  
  • It is not a border, but a line of withdrawal. It was set by the United Nations in 2000 for confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the south of Lebanon.