Israel: Long-range missile destroyed (Iranian)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 7/17/06 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

JERUSALEM - An Israeli airstrike in Lebanon on Monday destroyed at least one long-range Iranian missile capable of hitting Tel Aviv, military officials said.

Israeli aircraft targeted a truck carrying the weapons before they could be launched, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of military regulations. The force of the blast sent at least one missile flying into the air, but it fell nearby.

During nearly a week of fighting, Hezbollah militants have fired missiles up to 25 miles into Israel. But officials have raised concerns the guerrilla group could strike Tel Aviv, about 80 miles south of the border with Lebanon.

[NormsRevenge]

Here's a Global security link, sounds about the right size and range..

Mushok 200 Zelzal

deployed in the Bekaa Valley and it sounds like Southern Lebanon for awhile.

[ken5050]

Re the smaller Hezbollah rockets, the ones they have thousands of..the IDF has counter-battery artillery radar..why can't that be used to pin-point the launch site, then obliterate it immediately.

[expatpat]

You don't consider an artillery rocket to be a missile?

[NormsRevenge]

They already are, I suspect. Tough to pin down a location and then if the launches are in inhabited areas and homes .. all the tougher to be accurate..

An Israeli artillery unit fires a shell towards south Lebanon, July 16, 2006.
(Aviv Divon/Handout/IDF/Reuters)

[Slings and Arrows]

Why can't all these missile supplies in Lebanon be taken out one at a time?

1. The earth is large.
2. Rockets are small.
3. Hizballah are *ssh*l*s.

I'm sure Israel is working as fast as it can.

[Edgerunner]

How can you tell the difference between a Hizbolla terrorist and a civilian?

Tear off their shirts. You will see a yellow stripe running down their back...

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. also

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..................

[Stashiu]

Hmmmmm. I wonder how many Iranian 'guests' were with the missile?

[katieanna]

Thanks be to God.

[JennysCool]

How can you tell the difference between a Hizbolla terrorist and a civilian?

Shh! You're not supposed to ask questions like that!

[b4its2late]

They done blowed that up good!

[airborne]

Shh! You're not supposed to ask questions like that!

Sorry. I had a sudden attack of common sense.

[b4its2late]

capable of "carrying half a ton of chemical or conventional warheads as far as Tel Aviv

Not good.

[E.Allen]

I believe a missile has guidance, where a rocket is more of a pure ballistic trajectory weapon aimed at a general area.

[doug from upland]

Go, Israel. Destruction of those responsible for the violence may finally lead to peace.

[Roccus]

If he's alive, he's a terrorist. If he's dead, he's a civilian.
I read that on another thread. }:^)

[CatoRenasci]

That looks a lot more like a rocket being fired than an artillery projectile.

[headstamp]

If they (Hezballah) have equipment that big inside Lebanon, the Lebanese government is truly out of control of the country.

The Israelis are going to have to put boots on the ground there.

[ZGuy]

Sorry, but can't help wondering if they designed this so the launch button is somewhere in the cab.

[headstamp]

At least southern Lebanon has turned into an Iranian satellite state.