Jerusalem – Israel has carried out airstrikes against Syria twice in the past three days, targeting what officials say are shipments of highly accurate, Iranian-made guided missiles known as Fateh-110s believed to be on their way to Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group. Here are some details about the missile:
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—WHAT IS THE FATEH-110?
The Fateh-110, or “Conqueror” in Farsi, is a short-range ballistic missile developed by Iran and first put into service in 2002. The Islamic Republic unveiled an upgraded version last year that improved the weapon’s accuracy and increased its range to 300 kilometers (185 miles). Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi said at the time that the solid-fueled missile could strike with precision, making it the most accurate weapon of its kind in Iran’s arsenal.
—WHY ARE THE MISSILES IMPORTANT?
Israel worries the missiles could be transferred to Lebanon’s Hezbollah, providing a major boost to the Shiite militant group’s arsenal. The Fateh-110 is more accurate than anything Hezbollah is currently known to possess. Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in mid-2006 that ended in a stalemate. The missile would put almost all of Israel in range, and its precision guidance system poses a threat to Israeli infrastructure and military installations.