Ukraine will pay a price: the war between Israel and Hezbollah may put a strain on the production of artillery shells in the West

A potential war between Israel and Hezbollah terrorists could put a lot of pressure on the Western artillery production chains.

Here's What We Know

Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire on a regular basis since Hamas launched its terrorist attack from Gaza into Israel on 7 October last year. Although the fighting has so far been confined to the border regions, it could escalate into a wider war.

Last month, Israeli Defence Forces spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that Hezbollah's "increased" aggression "puts us on the brink of what could be a broader escalation that could have devastating consequences for Lebanon and the region."

If tensions were to escalate into a full-scale armed conflict, Israel would need more ammunition, which in turn would put more pressure on the West's already stretched artillery production. And this could have a negative impact on Ukraine, which is at war with Russia.

"The West is already under considerable pressure just to meet the demand for artillery for the war in Ukraine. So any new conflict, whether in the Middle East or elsewhere, will exacerbate supply problems," said Raphael Cohen, director of the RAND Air Force Strategy and Doctrine Program.

It is worth noting that the US and Europe have increased their artillery production rates to try to stay ahead of Russia and meet Ukraine's needs on the battlefield. However, according to NATO intelligence estimates published by CNN in March, Russia's production rate is still far higher than the West's.

Source: Business Insider