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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iranian Control of Hamas Opens Gaza Strip to Iranian Surface Missiles |
| 2004-09-20 |
| DEBKAfile Exclusive Military Report September 20th, 2004 (What action would Kerry take regarding Iran's exportation of dangerous missiles to suicidal terrorists?) The missile in the photo with this article is the Luna-2 short-range ground-to-ground missile, known to NATO from Soviet times as FROG-7, which Iran has developed as its Zelzal-2/Mushak-200. (SEE LINK FOR PHOTO) In the hands of Iran's Lebanon-based Revolutionary Guards, it has extended the Iranian-Hizballah's missile range due south to Israel's coastal cities of Haifa, Hadera and Netanya. The missile, its launchers and infrastructure are well-hidden in special storehouses in the port town of Sidon in the care of Revolutionary Guards specialist teams. A Lebanese urban center was chosen for their hiding places to reduce the weapon's vulnerability to an Israeli air strike. With Tehran already issuing operational orders to the Palestinian Hamas fundamentalist terrorist group, it is only a question of time before these missiles are transferred to the Gaza Strip, so bringing southern Israel, Tel Aviv and the cities in between, such as Rehovot, Rishon Lezion and Ashdod, within striking range. This looming menace finally drove Shin Bet Director Avi Dichter and IDF chiefs this week to openly challenge prime minister Ariel Sharon's plans for the removal of Israeli settlements and military units from the Gaza Strip in the framework of his disengagement blueprint. According to DEBKAfile's military sources, Zelzal-2/Mushak-200 is 8.3 meters long with an estimated range of between 100 and 400 km — effective most probably at 200 km. It is armed with a 600 kg warhead. Iran is known to have developed chemical and biological payloads but not to have located them in Lebanon. On the other hand, intelligence sources estimate that Syria has perfected the right chemical warheads for attachment to the Zelzal missiles deployed in Lebanon and they can be fitted within hours. These weapons may be delivered through the Palestinian gunrunning routes from Sinai into the Gaza Strip whenever the rulers of Iran and Syria so decide. |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |