Palestinian anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade
The Yasin (Arabic: ياسين), also known as Yassin,[2] or Al-Yassin,[3] is an anti-tank weapon developed by Hamas, first deployed in 2004.[4] It was named after Hamas' spiritual leader, Sheik Ahmed Yasin, killed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on March 22, 2004.[2]
Primarily used by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, it has also been deployed by Hamas units in Gaza, including the Executive Force,[6] and Naval Police.[7] Other users include fighters connected to Fatah and the PFLP.[2]
Although intended as an anti-tank weapon, the Yasin was chiefly operated against soft-skin vehicles and personnel.
History
Unveiled on August 30, 2004,[1] the Yasin was reportedly developed by Hamas engineers from the Research and Industry Unit,[8] directed by Adnan al-Ghoul, killed in Gaza by the IDF on October 22, 2004.[2]
First used against Israeli soldiers in 2005,[9] after the 2006 Lebanon War, production was accelerated in anticipation of an armed conflict with Israel.[10] During the 2006 Gaza conflict, there were reports of its use against Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip,[11] as well as at Beit Lahiya.[12] On August 14, 2007, Hamas reported firing a Yasin at an Israeli tank in Khan Yunis.[13] During the Gaza War, Hamas Naval Police officers were reportedly trained in its use.[7]
In 2018, Israeli intelligence claimed Yasin warheads were being converted into as balloon-based IEDs, since improvements to the armor used by Israeli military vehicles made them obsolete in their primary role.[9]
Design
The Yasin's design was influenced by the RPG-2 and RPG-7,[2] made in Gaza.[14] From the former, it used the rocket launcher tube design and the warhead's external shape and rocket motor which are very simple.[2] From the latter, it copied the enhanced warhead and the divergent nozzle at the launcher's rear to deflect recoil generated by launching the rocket with a rocket booster attached to the propelled grenade to extend its range.[2] The large cone at the back end of the Yasin launcher is thus typical of the RPG-7.[3]
The RPG is reported to be made in small underground workshops, with an explosive filler made from molten TNT and powdered ammonium nitrate.[15] While it has a claimed effective range of 300 meters, the Israeli Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center suggests between 200 and 250 meters.[16]
According to fighters from Popular Resistance Committees's Saladin brigades, the Yasin was able to take down a Merkava Mk. 3 on an undisclosed date by firing it at a "weak point".[2] However, it is more effective in urban warfare, able to destroy brick walls and penetrate a 21 cm steel plate from 150 meters,[2] although the ITIC suggests 200 mm (20 cm).[16]
Continued efforts to upgrade the Hamas-made RPG rocket to penetrate protective armor lead to the development of the more recent "Tandem 85" rocket, using a tandem-charge system designed to be more effective against reactive armor,[9] followed by the more recent yet "Yasin 105" rocket. The Yasin 105 is reported to have first seen action during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war.[17][18]
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