Iran Admits Supplying Missiles
Iran has made the unusual step of admitting that they supplied long range Zelzal-2 missiles to Hezbollah. Up until now they have been denying that they had supplied the terror group - despite Iranian armory stamps on seized weapons.
A senior Iranian official admitted for the first time Friday that Tehran did indeed supply long-range Zelzal-2 missiles to Hezbollah.
Mohtashami Pur, a one-time ambassador to Lebanon who currently holds the title of secretary-general of the "Intifada conference," told an Iranian newspaper that Iran transferred the missiles to the Shi'ite militia, adding that the organization has his country's blessing to use the weapons in defense of Lebanon.
Pur's statements are thought to be unusual given that Tehran has thus far been reluctant to comment on the extent of its aid which it has extended to Hezbollah.
Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah warned Thursday night in a televised broadcast that his organization would target Tel Aviv if Beirut was attacked by Israel.
"If our capital, Beirut, is attacked, we will attack your capital, Tel Aviv," Nasrallah threatened.
The Hezbollah leader issued his warning after Israel Air Force aircraft dropped leaflets over the Lebanese capital, calling on residents of three Shi'ite neighborhoods in southern Beirut to evacuate their homes.
Israeli security sources assessed that Nasrallah's threats are serious.
Israeli intelligence believes Nasrallah would like to end the war with a long range rocket attack on Tel Aviv as a PR coup. Description and picture of the Zelzal-2 is here. These rockets have been rumored to have been in the Bekaa since at least 2001.
By Black Jack, August 4, 2006 @ 1:26 pm
At about 28 feet long and 2 feet in diameter the missile is big enough to carry a hefty warhead and has the range to hit most anywhere in Israel. However, it requires a specialized launch vehicle which is easily identified by aerial surveillance. Hezbollah may have the weapon, but trying get it transported to a launch site, getting set up and ready to fire, takes time and exposes the technicians to detection and attack.
It may be useful as a terror weapon so long as they don’t try to use it. If they do bring it out in the open, they may not live long enough to get off the launcher. And, assuming Hezbollah can get one in the air, Israel has the Patriot System to knock it down.
By phil, August 4, 2006 @ 2:02 pm
Isn’t the capital of Israel jeruselum? In any event, I suspect that after a cease fire, and when things calm down - someone high up in hezbollah will quietly disappear ala the Mossad treatment.
http://www.what-a-world.com
By Quilly Mammoth, August 4, 2006 @ 2:23 pm
For Hizbullah the Fadjr-5 is more deployable and able to reach most of Israel; it does have a smaller warhead. If they are seen deploying the Zelzal-2 Israel must begin to think of WMD delivery.
By Norman Rogers, August 4, 2006 @ 3:22 pm
I think the Patriot batteries can handle these big dogs. It’s the smaller missiles with shorter trajectories that the Patriot is unsuited for.