Unveiling Hamas' Lethal Inventory: Exploring Homemade Rockets, AK-47 Modifications, and Beyond

Hamas's deadly improvised arsenal, which fueled a devastating attack on Israel over the weekend, consisted of homemade rockets, modified AK-47s, and decades-old Soviet machine guns. These cheap, second-hand, and stolen weapons formed the basis of the weaponry used by Hamas militants, who killed at least 1,200 people in Israel. By analyzing numerous photos and videos of the assault, CNN experts have identified many of the weapons as altered Russian or Chinese firearms, likely abandoned on the battlefield in the past and later acquired by Hamas terrorists.

The intricate assault plan utilized by Hamas involved infiltration into Israel through various means, showcasing a shift in their overall military strategy. Some experts speculate that certain firearms may have been provided by Iran, as confirmed by the US State Department, which consistently supports Hamas with financial aid, weaponry, and training. Hamas functions within the confines of Gaza, a strip of Mediterranean coastal land surrounded by Israel and Egypt. Since Hamas took control of the territory in 2007, it has been isolated from the rest of the world, leading to blockades imposed by Israel and Egypt.

The fertile terrain provides ample opportunities for a condemned terrorist organization to scavenge and modify weapons for guerrilla warfare. Despite being less advanced compared to Israel's military standards, as the country has access to top-notch equipment from the US, these weapons had a profound impact, causing an unprecedented level of destruction.

Ret. US Army Major Mike Lyons described the portable surface-to-air missiles seen in at least one video reviewed by CNN as "weapons of mass destruction" to him. However, according to Lyons, Hamas fighters don't require advanced equipment to be lethal – all they need is to instill fear.

Machine guns

Photo-illustration: CNN/Oren Ziv/Getty Images

A pickup truck is seen in pictures with a Soviet-made DShK, a .50 caliber machine gun, that has been modified and rigged.

According to Lyons, the typical operation of this gun involves two individuals - one to load bullets and another to operate the firing. However, he believes that the gun has been adjusted in a way that allows a single fighter to operate it with ease.

Lyons stated that an individual has the ability to sit, placing one hand on the trigger and shooting with one hand while attending to another task. He further emphasized that these weapons cause devastating destruction.

These highly destructive weapons are specifically engineered to penetrate military vehicles and aircraft. They are extensively utilized by trained military personnel and are commonly affixed to a tripod or armored vehicle for defensive purposes during combat engagements.

"It is highly unusual to witness the deployment of (this weapon) in a vulnerable village devoid of any military presence," expressed John Spencer, Urban Warfare Studies Chair at the Modern War Institute at West Point. "It resembles an intensified slaughter or a situation akin to an armed assailant."

AK-47s

CNN analyzed numerous videos and photos revealing that assailants were seen carrying AK-47s, which are renowned for their lethality, user-friendliness, and easy availability. Experts have stated that this assault rifle is the weapon of choice for militant groups.

Stephen Biddle, a professor at Columbia University and defense expert, highlights the capability of emptying an entire magazine by holding down the trigger, thanks to the high cyclic rate of fire of the weapon. He also emphasizes the widespread availability of these weapons, stating that Hamas did not actively seek them out.

A video shared on the Hamas Telegram channel exhibits armed fighters, many armed with AK-47s, forcefully entering an Israeli military outpost. The attackers navigate through Israeli neighborhoods, engaging an Israeli tank and menacing civilians by holding them at gunpoint.

Some experts CNN consulted mentioned that certain groups will modify AK-47s by removing equipment to enhance their usability and reduce weight. "They do these modifications to prioritize practicality," Lyons explained.

Members of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military branch of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, gather for a commemoration event in Rafah, a town located in the southern Gaza Strip. The occasion is held on January 31, 2017, to honor the memory of Mohamed Zouari, a 49-year-old engineer and expert in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Tunisia. Zouari was tragically assassinated outside his residence in Tunisia in December 2016. The armed division of Hamas proclaimed that the murder, which occurred in eastern Tunisia, was the responsibility of the Israeli state. Mohamed Zaouari, referred to as a prominent figure within the Islamist movement and recognized for his expertise in drone technology, was the victim of this ruthless act. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP) (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images/FILE

How does Hamas get its weapons? A mix of improvisation, resourcefulness and a key overseas benefactor

Spencer observed that such modifications often indicate a lack of professionalism, but can still pose a significant danger.

According to him, standardization would indicate a professional approach. He suggested that making subtle adjustments to older equipment can enhance its effectiveness or improve its ergonomics.

Some experts believe that some of the AK-47s could be old Soviet weapons abandoned during the federation's invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s. Additionally, others speculate that some of the weapons could have originated from China and were acquired by terrorist networks. Another source of AK-47s could be Iraq, where Saddam Hussein purchased them in large quantities. Furthermore, experts suggest that a significant number of small arms from Libya entered the black market in the 2010s. This highlights the dilemma faced when advanced military equipment is left behind on the battlefield, as it may eventually be seized by terrorist organizations.

Rockets

Photo-illustration: CNN/Telegram

Hamas has traditionally relied on rockets as a means to engage in asymmetrical warfare with Israel. In a single day, specifically on Saturday, the militant organization asserted that it launched a total of 5,000 rockets towards Israel, with the majority being successfully intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defense system.

The Iron Dome, a state-of-the-art system equipped with radar to detect and intercept incoming projectiles, has been overwhelmed by the sheer number of rockets on certain occasions.

In Israeli homes, some rockets have even landed without detonating. A man, in a short video shared on Telegram, showcases a Hamas rocket protruding through the ceiling of a bedroom. According to a British researcher who manages Calibre Obscura, a website that identifies weapons, the rocket appears to be an unexploded Qassam or Saraya al-Quds rocket. These rockets are associated with the Hamas military wing, known as the Izz al-Din al-Qassam brigades, and the al-Quds brigade of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a competing Islamist group in the Gaza Strip.

The researcher stated that Hamas now produces most of its own Qassam rockets due to the challenges of smuggling larger rockets into Gaza. The manufacturing process of these improvised rockets has been less disclosed. It was previously known that Hamas used old water pipes to make rockets during past conflicts with Israel. Recently, a senior Hamas official based in Lebanon provided information on the group's weapons production in an edited interview with RT Arabic, which was published on Sunday on their website.

"We have local manufacturing facilities for rockets ranging from 250 km to 10 km. Additionally, we have factories producing mortars and their projectiles. We also have manufacturing facilities for Kalashnikov rifles and the corresponding ammunition. We have obtained permission from the Russians to manufacture bullets in Gaza," stated Ali Baraka, the head of Hamas National Relations Abroad, in an interview. However, former US officials firmly believe that the extensive arsenal used in the attack on Saturday was obtained and assembled with assistance from Iran.

"Hamas did not construct the guidance system or acquire those missiles in Gaza," declared retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, the former commander of US Central Command. "They obtained them from an undisclosed source. Moreover, the technological support necessary to assemble such weaponry undoubtedly originated from Iran - as there is no other plausible alternative."

Grenades

Photo-illustration: CNN/Jack Guez/Getty Images

In the early stages of their attacks, Hamas militants employed grenades as they stormed Israeli towns and villages near the Gaza Strip.

In a CNN-verified dashcam video, a militant hurls a grenade into a bomb shelter close to the Nova music festival. Following this, the fighters promptly seek cover while a man escapes the shelter.

Former Lt. David Benson, an Iraq war veteran now employed at a security firm, commented, "They all sought shelter, which is a typical response for individuals experienced in such situations." He observed that the video showcased the fighters' level of training.

On October 8, an image from Reuters captured Israeli troops examining weapons arranged on a sidewalk outside a police station in Sderot, a border town. Three experts have confirmed that the objects in question are likely hand grenades. Although it is uncertain whether Hamas acquired or produced these grenades, their possession indicates that the group has significantly enhanced its capabilities in recent times.

"Hand grenades are expensive, even in the American military," Benson said.

Drones

A video shared on a Hamas social media account showcases an aerial perspective of munitions that Hamas alleges to have deployed on Israeli soldiers using a drone. The authenticity of the video has not been verified by CNN, although a comparable weapon was employed in the initial assault, in which Hamas targeted unmanned machine gun towers at an Israeli outpost along the border with bomb strikes.

Biddle suggested that the drones depicted in the video deliberately aim for the sensors that oversee the fence dividing Gaza and Israel, suggesting a premeditated assault. According to him, the initial objective is not to breach the fence, but rather to disable these sensors.

Spencer informed CNN that this observation not only suggests support from a governmental entity but also hints at specialized training in handling the drones and selecting the most suitable explosives for optimum impact on their intended targets.

"The drones were the sole source of surprise for me. While it's expected for them to possess such technology, the extent of coordination and sophistication displayed in the attack, along with the inclusion of the released videos... This strongly indicates a state-affiliated patronage of Hamas militants," stated Spencer.

In a separate video published by Hamas and geolocated by CNN, a drone can be seen strategically planting a timed IED above an automated remote-controlled machine gun at an Israeli outpost near Kfar Aza, Israel.

Paragliders

Photo-illustration: CNN/Hamas

Militants are seen in a Hamas video analyzed by CNN, using a sail and paragliders to enter Israel during the initial wave of Saturday's attack, while rockets are being launched near Gaza's Beit Lahia.

Paragliders, which rely on wind for propulsion, and powered parachutes, equipped with engines, are typically used by thrill-seekers in adventurous activities. However, they are not commonly employed in warfare, and for valid reasons.

"Paragliders are highly susceptible to danger and lack agility," Benson commented.

Sean Elliott, the Vice President of Industry & Regulatory Affairs at the Experimental Aircraft Association, concurred.

"They have a limited scope," Elliott stated. "Specific conditions and environment are necessary for their success. There are numerous vulnerabilities."

However, such incidents have occurred in the past. In the late 1987, a Palestinian combatant utilized a hang glider, which is comparable to a paraglider but possesses a rigid framework for its wings, to infiltrate Israeli airspace. The combatant, armed with hand grenades, a pistol, and an assault rifle, took the lives of six Israeli soldiers and injured seven more before being eliminated, as reported by TIME.

In 2012, a suspected al Qaeda terrorist cell in Spain was discovered with three motorized paragliders. They had received training on flying these paragliders from a local instructor. However, according to Spencer, it is believed that Hamas did not simply acquire the paragliders from a local store. There is suspicion that the group may have received training and resources from a sponsor located outside Gaza.

"They didnt come up with the equipment themselves," Spencer said.

Bulldozers

Photo illustration: CNN/Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa/Reuters

Various experts interviewed by CNN underscored the spontaneous manner of the Hamas assault. The combatants seem to employ whatever resources were available to the extremist factions in order to carry out the attack.

During the initial attack, visuals capture the utilization of a bulldozer to demolish the barrier that divides Gaza and Israel. Certain footage reveals Hamas militants operating IDF vehicles and employing Israeli weapons, presumably acquired amidst the initial conflict.

Hamas has reportedly employed the tactic of donning Israeli soldiers' uniforms in order to deceive and disorient Israeli forces. This strategy has been utilized in previous conflicts as well. "Hamas frequently employs the method of disguising themselves as IDF soldiers to seize control of different territories, target soldiers, or launch surprise attacks," stated Spencer.

CNNs Gianluca Mezzofiore,Paul Murphy and Pete Muntean contributed to this report.