Israel Matzav

Israel’s Defense Minister Slams Russian Sophisticated-Weapons Deliveries to Middle East

Hezbullah is using sophisticated Russian anti-tank missiles that were sold to Syria on condition that they would not be transferred to Hezbullah. I trust that surprises none of you and that none of you will be surprised if nuclear technology that Russia is selling to Iran similarly ends up in terrorist hands.

Hezbollah’s troops are using modern and sophisticated Russian-made anti-tank missiles against Israel’s army in fights in the South of Lebanon, Israel’s defense minister Amir Peretz said Wednesday, RIA Novosti news agency reports.

“We are fighting against the Iranian commando, which is armed with sophisticated, modern weaponry. This includes Russian-made anti-tank missiles, which in the past it was promised would not fall into the hands of Hezbollah. This weapon is used today against IDF soldiers in Lebanon,” Peretz said during the meeting with the German Foreign Minister, Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, ynetnews.com reports.

The Gaaretz newspaper [I assume that should read HaAretz. CiJ] claimed on Sunday that Hezbollah used Russian-made RPG-29 anti-tank missiles, which were sold to Syria by Russia, and then to Hezbollah.

RPG-29 missiles are able to break through the heavy armor of Israel’s “Merkava” tanks. Hezbollah fighters also use RPG’s against Israeli troops. Israel found out that Hezbollah possesses Russian-made anti-tank missiles in November 2005, after Hezbollah fighters had attacked Israel’s army in Radjar village.

“Then, against existing practice, Israel had given Russia one of the missile’s tail-end for analysis. Russia then said that it was impossible to determine whether this rocket had been sold to Syria or not, due to the missing serial number,” the Gaaretz article reads.

Like the Russians would have done anything about it if they could read the serial number. Most of the Israeli casualties in Lebanon have been from anti-tank missiles.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:17 PM