Iranian Rockets In Lebanon

The Iranian government intends to place long-range rockets on Lebanese soil of a new model known as Fateh 110; this is the recent assessment of Western intelligence officials.

As part of the renewal of the Iranian strategic rocket array in Lebanon, which was destroyed by Israel during the last war, Western officials assess that the Iranians will upgrade the array of rockets in Lebanon and place models of long-range rockets not previously seen in Lebanon.

The Fateh 110 rocket was successfully tested for the first time in 2002 and was first displayed in public in a military parade in Tehran in 2003.

This is a rocket that is highly reminiscent of the Zelzal rocket, which the IAF destroyed at the beginning of the last war. However, the Fateh 110 appears to have a guidance system that makes it more accurate.

According to various estimates, the rocket’s range is between 170 to 250 kilometers.

The preparations for launching the rocket are not complicated: The time of preparation for fire is very brief, since it is powered by solid fuel. The use of this fuel, as opposed to liquid fuel, enables the rocket to be stored for a long time while already fueled, and to quickly take it out at the appropriate moment. Liquid fuel corrodes the metal, and therefore rockets powered by liquid fuel must be stored empty of fuel, which lengthens the time of preparation for launching.

The use of solid fuel reduces the exposure of the rocket launchers to the eyes of the Air Force, prior to and during the launching.

According to diplomatic sources in the Persian Gulf, in the latest maneuvers performed by the Revolutionary Guard in Iran, the advanced Fateh 110 rocket was also fired.

As of now, the Iranians have succeeded in smuggling thousands of rockets into Lebanon since the end of the war. There is no information that can confirm or disprove the possibility that, among the rockets smuggled, there are also long-range rockets of these advanced models.

“This is a very serious and lethal instrument,” said an Israeli rocket expert on Tuesday about the possibility that the Fateh 110 rocket would reach Hezbollah. “Its warhead can take down an apartment building as if it were made of paper …” If this rocket threatens us, it will create a serious problem,” said the expert, but emphasized that the Arrow missile system and the Patriot are capable of intercepting it. “The future systems that Israel is currently developing in order to deal with rocket threats will also be able to handle this rocket.”

David Bedein can be reached at Media@actcom.co.il. His Web site is www.IsraelBehindTheNews.com.

©The Bulletin 2007