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Syrian and Iranian Presidents, Bashar Assad, right, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Damascus last year. (Archives)
Last update - 04:48 09/02/2008
Iran helps Syria develop missile that can target Israeli installations
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Syria, Iran, Israel, IDF

Syria has successfully developed a new surface-to-surface missile that would enable it to target Israeli installations such as airports, ports and factories with greater accuracy, according to briefings recently presented to senior ministers.

According to the information, Syria developed the new missile with Iranian support, which is a further indication of the tight strategic bonds between the two countries. Much of these strategic ties revolve around military and intelligence cooperation.

I
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sraeli defense officials said they thought Damascus and Tehran shared technical know-how that has allowed Syria to upgrade the Iranian-made Zelzal surface-to-surface missile. The missile has an operational range of approximately 250 kilometers and is capable of carrying an especially large warhead. It is believed that the missile is more accurate than other similar surface-to-surface weapons in the Syrian arsenal.

This comes at a time when Israeli defense sources have expressed growing concern at the rearmament program of the Syrian armed forces, which is mostly being supplied by arms transfers from Russia.

Among other weapons, Syria has recently acquired the Pantsyr air defense missile system, a self-propelled system that is capable of firing between eight and 12 missiles and can pose a substantial threat to Israeli air force aircraft.

Damascus has also procured modern anti-tank missiles with alleged capabilities of neutralizing the most advanced main battle tank of the IDF, the Merkava Mark IV.

However, Mossad chief Meir Dagen told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that at this stage the Syrian defense acquisitions appear to be defensive and that there are no indications that Damascus has any plans to initiate a military action against Israel.

Meanwhile, a political source noted Thursday that there is a discernible effort on the part of Syria to improve its missile arsenal - both in terms of range and accuracy.

"The problem is that their missiles are being transformed from less-effective weapons into precision weapons that will enable their use against military bases, airports and military depots, which is a very worrying development," the source said.

There is growing concern in Israel that the missile arsenal of Syria will be transformed from being a "blind" strategic weapon, into a precision-strike weapon.

Syria has a significant missile arsenal. During the Second Lebanon War Hezbollah fired many volleys of 220mm rockets of Syrian make against Israel, causing significant casualties in Israel.

According to Israeli estimates, Syria has tens of thousands of rockets of this type, as well as smaller-caliber and shorter-range missiles. In addition, they have Scud-C and Scud-D ballistic missiles with ranges of 500-800 kilometers, which can effectively strike every part of Israeli territory.


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      1.   All the more reason Israelis should learn to make peace, not war. 03:40  |  Johan Odin 08/02/08
      2.   Hmmmm... 04:01  |  Tziril Esther 08/02/08
      3.   Syrian Missiles 04:02  |  George W. Bush 08/02/08
      4.   Johan is right 04:17  |  Natallie Durson 08/02/08
      5.   upgrades 04:21  |  Shmuelshachor 08/02/08
      6.   #1 Odin from Oslo` 04:23  |  Sabra 08/02/08
      7.   To Johan 04:34  |  B. 08/02/08
      8.   Dear Tziril Esther 04:34  |  Martin Lawrence 08/02/08
      9.   Did Israel know all of this and still attacked Syria?!! 04:51  |  ManintheMiddle 08/02/08
      10.   Israel Must Use Nukes On Syria 04:56  |  Dave Levy 08/02/08
      11.   #1 if the state of Israel had "learned to make peace" everytime 05:00  |  Philo-Semite 08/02/08
      12.   To B 05:11  |  Johan Odin 08/02/08
      13.   #8, Martin Lawrence 05:17  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/02/08
      14.   haman A and haman b 05:18  |  tony 08/02/08
      15.   #1 Johan Odin 05:22  |  geoff 08/02/08
      16.   dursan a feminist? 05:25  |  dave 08/02/08
      17.   Martin Lawrence 05:36  |  AntiLiberal 08/02/08
      18.   Johan Odin #1 05:38  |  roland 08/02/08
      19.   durson and odin 05:39  |  coric al-mouri 08/02/08
      20.   Tehran tentacles 05:59  |  Morris Valentine 08/02/08
      21.   Israel better have nukes and daisy cutters 06:10  |  Ron 08/02/08
      22.   Durson`s depraved feminism 06:29  |  Stephen in New York 08/02/08
      23.   To the Oslo Israel Hater: You are half right. 06:29  |  R 08/02/08
      24.   #20, Morris Valentine 06:32  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/02/08
      25.   Down Syndrome bombers 06:49  |  Snurdly 08/02/08
      26.   to joan(yasmina) on #1 06:56  |  Shmuelshachor 08/02/08
      27.   HEY ODIN, WHO THE HE.. ARE YOU TO PREACH ON ISRAEL 07:03  |  Jorge 08/02/08
      28.   Get the nukes ready 07:07  |  George 08/02/08
      29.   tony, I could have no sense of humor left after falling on a rug 07:17  |  mordecai 08/02/08
      30.   I would not want to live in Syria if Assad decides to use them. 07:18  |  Gambler Mahmoud 08/02/08
      31.   Syrian Missiles 07:18  |  Scott Havsy 08/02/08
      32.   What do Hillary, McCain, and Obama have in common? 07:27  |  Pablo B 08/02/08
      33.   you know what,c`est la merde 07:30  |  georges dupond-levy 08/02/08
      34.   #5 Shmuel - How many wars have been fought with Uzi`s? 07:34  |  Pablo B 08/02/08
      35.   JOHAN 07:35  |  Medical Doctor 08/02/08
      36.   #3, george bush, the DH, makes a sub-human statement 07:55  |  VIPER 08/02/08
      37.   EVERYBODY STOP 07:55  |  Nick 08/02/08
      38.   #10, DAVE LEVY, typical zionist with propaganda 07:59  |  VIPER 08/02/08
      39.   19 coric al-mouri. Oh you are so right. Reminds me 08:01  |  bat yam 08/02/08
      40.   ohan Odin small question, Has Syria recognized Israel`s existance 08:15  |  Dan 08/02/08
      41.   Johan Odin nobody kills more innocent people than the Palestinian 08:18  |  Dan 08/02/08
      42.   Johan Odin no one kills more whales in the world than you people 08:22  |  Dan 08/02/08
      43.   coric al-mouri, I will make peace with you any time 08:25  |  Dan 08/02/08
      44.   Iran and its servile ally Syria. 08:26  |  Malka Ziv 08/02/08
      45.   1* ODIN 08:28  |  mike 08/02/08
      46.   syrian missiles 08:43  |  jean la salle 08/02/08
      47.   are they decorative or functional? 08:47  |  Mark Katzman 08/02/08
      48.   to #17 ANTILIBERAL 09:04  |  Gazan 08/02/08
      49.   why complain...? 09:05  |  ravi 08/02/08
      50.   Why should Syria aim at military installations... 09:05  |  Dutch Dirk 08/02/08
      51.   NATALIE DURSON 09:07  |  MICHAEL 08/02/08
      52.   Syria should get those weapons 09:17  |  Palestinian 08/02/08
      53.   Odin `in the region` 09:19  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 08/02/08
      54.   #9 Maninthemiddle 09:27  |  Dutch Dirk 08/02/08
      55.   Bravo Syria 09:30  |  Walid 08/02/08
      56.   Johan Odin #1 09:32  |  TonyL 08/02/08
      57.   All the more reason to attack Before they have better Missiles 09:32  |  Efox 08/02/08
      58.   Thank you Coric 09:34  |  A mother 08/02/08
      59.   # 19 - coric al-mouri 09:34  |  Natallie Durson 08/02/08
      60.   Meir Dagan and Albert Einstein 09:35  |  smiley 08/02/08
      61.   re: Johan Odin 09:36  |  Efox 08/02/08
      62.   Johan #1 You are right on! 09:41  |  Charlie Findo 08/02/08
      63.   MAFIAS OR TERROR MENTALITIES 09:44  |  ... 08/02/08
      64.   Johan Odin 09:45  |  Daniel W 08/02/08
      65.   According to... 09:47  |  Clickfool 08/02/08
      66.   LOOK AT BIG IRAN ! DEALING WITH A CHARACTERLESS CAT 09:47  |  ... 08/02/08
      67.   IF IRAN IS STRONG ! WHY SHE DEALS WITH TERROR LANDS ? 09:48  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 08/02/08
      68.   Victory is up for grabs 09:54  |  Natallie Durson 08/02/08
      69.   defense against Israeli agression 09:55  |  Leona 08/02/08
      70.   Typical IDF untrue propaganda 10:07  |  Yossi Cronenberg 08/02/08
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