Iranian and Lebanese sources have recently confirmed that the Iranian backed Lebanese group Hezbollah has received the Iranian Fateh-110 guided ballistic missiles, and inducted the weapon into its missile arsenal. With a range of 250-350 km the new missile can hit targets provides the group with a capability to hit any target in Israel up to the northern Negev.
Brigadier General Seyed Majid Moussavi Lieutenant Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, confirmed last week that the ‘Lebanese and Palestinian resistance groups’ are in possession of Fateh-class missiles which were developed by Iran a few years ago. “Considering the range of their missiles, they are able now to attack all targets from Southern to Northern parts of the occupied territories,” he said.
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In another interview the Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh confirmed Syria’s missile-production plants had been built by Iran. “The missile production plants in Syria have been built by Iran and the missiles designed by Iran are being produced there,” Hajizadeh said, adding that “The Lebanese Hezbollah and the Palestinian resistance have grown highly powerful in this field (missile production) now.”
Deliveries of such missiles has been regarded by Israel as a ‘red line’, triggering preemptive response. In 2013 the Israel Air Force attacked a shipment of similar missiles near the airport in Damascus. In the past year, Israel is said to have attacked six missile-laden convoys, as well as missile storage sites, both in Syria and Lebanon, in a bid to prevent Syria from delivering ballistic missiles, anti-ship and anti-aircraft to Hezbollah.
[ismember]Lebanon’s militant Shiite Hezbollah organization confirmed the Iranian announcement saying it has acquired advanced Iranian missiles with “pinpoint accuracy” that it could use against Israel in any future war. “With the Islamic Republic’s support and Hezbollah’s readiness for any future war, [the next] war will be much tougher for the Israelis,” said Naim Qassem, the deputy head of Hezbollah. Qassem discounted concerns raised by neighbouring Arab regimes, about the risk those missiles could pose to other countries. “Such missile capability supports, firstly, Iran’s government and Revolution, and secondly, serves the resistance in the face of the Israeli enemy and serves the regional governments as well.” Qassem noted.
The timing of Qassem’s interview appeared to be connected to the climax of negotiations between the so-called P5+1 of leading world powers and Iran in Vienna. Israel has warned that it could bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities if the talks fail and Tehran proceeds with its nuclear agenda.
Iran’s considerable military and financial investment in Hezbollah is intended to bolster Iran’s deterrence against a possible attack on its nuclear facilities. According to Iran’s unspoken strategy, If Israel chooses to bomb Iran’s nuclear plants, it must first assess the response of Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon.
The stronger Hezbollah’s military capabilities, the greater the stakes for Israel in launching an attack on Iran. Twenty years ago, Hezbollah’s arsenal of unguided 12-mile range rockets allowed it to pepper parts of northern Israel only. Today, the missiles suspected to be in Hezbollah’s arsenal could slam half a tonne of high-grade explosive into specific targets in Tel Aviv, such as the Israeli defense ministry or Ben Gurion International Airport.[/ismember]
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More on this subject:
- Lebanese source: Mobile missile launchers can hit any target in Israel
- Fateh 110 missiles in Iran, Syria and Lebanon
