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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Israel and Hezbollah's Golan calculations |
| 2016-12-20 |
| [UPI] When Hezbollah went to war with Israel in 2006, estimates suggest it had approximately 13,000 short-range rockets. Now it could have more than 100,000, including weapons with greater accuracy, range and payloads. Hezbollah has acquired the Russian-made SA-17 "Buk," a medium-range air defense missile originally sold to Syria that has a range of 31 miles and can target aircraft flying at altitudes of 78,000 feet. The SA-17, which Israel went to great lengths to prevent Hezbollah from acquiring, represents the Lebanese group's most potent air defense weapon and puts all Israeli aircraft within reach. Israel also says Hezbollah is constructing bases in Syria to store missiles -- possibly Iranian Shabaab-1, Shabaab-2 and Fateh-110 ballistic missiles, which puts Israel fully within striking range. These developments represent a growing strategic threat for Israel. Add to it the possibility of Hezbollah establishing a presence in the Golan and the situation becomes especially troubling. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 during the Six-Day War and has occupied it since, effectively annexing it in 1981. International law officially recognizes the territory as Syrian, as do Israel's closest allies such as the United States, Britannia and La Belle La Belle France. |
| Posted by:Fred |