Iran Supplied New Version of RPG to Hamas in Ongoing Conflict

Defense News ,Israel Hamas war :- As the conflict between Israel and the Hamas terror organization in Gaza, mounting evidence points to Iran as the primary source of weapons deployed against the Israeli Defence Force (IDF).

According to a recent report from the Israeli Alma Research and Education Center, an Iranian-made weapon, identified as a new version of the RPG, has surfaced in the hands of Hamas. Analysts Yair Ansbacher and Yishay Armoni reveal that during the ongoing war, the IDF encountered a previously unknown weapon known as the TBG, directly supplied to Hamas from Iran and bearing a Persian inscription.

The TBG, designed for use with a Soviet RPG-7 launcher, features a warhead apparently manufactured in Iran. The report notes that while externally resembling the familiar tandem (PG-7R) warhead of the RPG-7, a closer inspection reveals a distinct weapon. The rear of the warhead mirrors the Russian TBG-7 thermobaric warhead, introduced in 1999, combined with the front part of the Tandem warhead (PG-7R).

Stored in a designated sealed PVC pipe for protection against wear and corrosion, the warhead maintains secrecy. Many such pipes, bearing the logo of Hamas' military wing and painted in camouflage colors, were discovered scattered throughout the Gaza Strip envelope after an invasion by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023.

The TBG warhead consists of two parts: a small hollow charge for light armor penetration and a larger thermobaric (fuel-air) charge with a 105 mm diameter. This combination enables the weapon to penetrate exterior armor and walls, causing a burning effect and increased air pressure upon explosion.

Effective against light armored vehicles, infantry, and civilians in buildings and behind cover, the TBG is less effective against heavy armored vehicles with closed hatches due to the small hollow charge. According to Hamas' November 2023 video, the weapon has a 105 mm caliber, a 100-meter effective range, and weighs 4.5 kg, identical to the TBG-7V.

Hamas emphasizes the TBG's purpose against buildings and fortifications, capable of penetrating walls and exploding behind them. Its presence in the Gaza Strip suggests potential use by Hezbollah in the Lebanese arena, given their extensive RPG-7 launcher arsenal. While it remains unclear if Hezbollah is independently developing the TBG, the likelihood is higher compared to Hamas.