Report: Palestinian Terrorists Train on Sophisticated Anti-Tank Missiles in Iran
- Posted on November 18, 2011 at 6:11am by
Sharona Schwartz
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A select group of Palestinian terrorists from Hamas and Islamic Jihad recently traveled to Iran to undergo “extensive military training“ in operating ”sophisticated” anti-tank missiles, according to an Israeli newspaper. Quoting unnamed IDF sources, The Jerusalem Post reports on the training and the terrorists’ improved arsenal:
The IDF believes that Hamas and Islamic Jihad have obtained several hundred advanced Russian-made antitank missiles – such as the Kornet and the Fagot – which have a range of more than 4 kilometers and are capable of penetrating armored personnel carriers and some IDF tanks.
Terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip had a small number of these missiles ahead of Operation Cast Lead – Israel’s offensive against Hamas in 2009 – but only used them in a handful of known instances.
“They were not trained well then, and as a result, the missiles were not effective,” a senior IDF officer explained this week. “Since then, the groups have significantly increased the stockpile and have also sent specific terrorists to Iran for extensive training where they became anti-tank missile experts.”
The Post says this new-found expertise was seen earlier this year when Hamas fired a Kornet anti-tank missile from a distance of 3 kilometers at a school bus, killing a 16-year-old boy. Defense sources told the Post that Gaza terrorists purchase the anti-tank missiles via Syria, which buys them from Russia or from black market arms dealers. The weapons are smuggled into Gaza through tunnels from Egypt.
“The Gaza Strip is completely different today than what it was almost three years ago,” a senior defense official said. “The amounts of weaponry are significantly higher as well as the type of weaponry and its sophistication.”
To face this threat, Israel has been investing in new systems to protect its Merkava tanks, most prominently the Trophy active protection system. This video from manufacturer Rafael describes the system, which includes protection against multiple incoming missiles and an ability to identify the source of hostile fire:
As The Blaze reported last month, Hamas recently smuggled “relatively advanced Russian missiles” looted from Libyan military warehouses into Gaza, upgrading the anti-aircraft capability of the Islamist Palestinian terrorist group. The anti-tank training supported by Iranian personnel and treasure is another example of how Hamas and Islamic Jihad are investing unsparingly in new and improved means to both attack Israeli civilians and to counter future IDF actions against them.
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JohnWV
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 2:16am.
Report Post »You identify them wrongly. “FREEDOM FIGHTERS” or “PATRIOTS” better fits. Those resisting the Jewish state’s illegal siege and occupation of Palestine are anything but terrorists.
MUDFLAPS
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 8:47pmmuslims are like cockroaches.
Report Post »flik221
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 1:51pmFREE Palestine ………….. NUKE EM!
Report Post »LET God sort em out
affinnity
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 1:30pmThis video makes it very clear that war is big business. I wonder if trophy is made in China? Oh, as soon as it works we’ll teach our friends the Chinese to make them for the less cost but the same price.
Report Post »Theodwulf
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 4:32pm“Trophy is the product of a ten-year collaborative development project between the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aircraft Industries’ Elta Group.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophy_(countermeasure)
Report Post »JRook
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 12:15pmNothing like the business of killing. No money for science, no money for education, no money for culture and the arts, but we go plenty for new tanks and missiles. The only thing more reflective of how screwed up the priorities are, is the ridiculous amount of money being paid to professional athletes and coaches, and coaches at Division I programs. For example the football coach at the U. of Washington, not exactly a powerhouse is twice that of the University President. It may be the market, but it is not a free market. The influence of wealthy donors causes these types of market imbalances and situations like that at Penn St.
Report Post »Evil_Conservative
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 9:47amOur enemies are a legion. And still we procrastinate.
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 8:59amSo, what. I don’t live there.
Report Post »joe1234
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 9:53amoh yeah you’re safe…the muslims just want to live in peace….just like Charles Martel discovered….
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 10:54am…and you honestly think they won’t come here? You underestimate your enemy at your own peril.
Report Post »Theodwulf
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 4:29pmIf the enemy is at the gate…It is too Freakin’ Late!!!!
The bunker mentality is waiting to lose.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 8:25am.
Report Post »They just need to bomb & burn Gaza & the West Bank to the ground, bulldoze the ashes and anything left standing higher than 2 feet into the sea and start over……….
winevine
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 8:41amWe’d love to…The West Bank has dozens of enclaves of Jewish communities that we need to send on vacation first, before a firestorm….Gaza should be turned into a parking lot.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 7:28amThis is bad news indeed for the next engagement the IDF has to make into Lebanon or when they are defending their own lands; I have read accounts of the last incursion into Lebanon by Israel a few years ago, and it was eye opening.
In the case of the US we do need to support Isreal, everywhere else, get us home and NOW.
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 7:46amI don’t know much about Israeli tanks anymore (retired in 83) but the iraqis found out in a hurry that the Abrams Tank had the most sophisticated target acquisition system they had ever seen. At least one Iraqi officer said “We can’t fight back, you are destroying our tanks before we can see you” .
Hamas just might experience some of the same incoming fire.
OMG
Report Post »Armed Patriot
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 8:47amDont forget to thank nobama when those Isreali aircraft start getting shot down. nobama violated the War Powers Act, devoted US Military assets and treasure to destroy the Libyan government, going far beyond the UN resolution, thus aiding Libyan rebels (the highest number of insurgents in Iraq) and planting the Al Qaeda flag over the headquarters of the new government, the National Transitional Council.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 7:00amBring our troops home from EVERYWHERE.
Report Post »Stop the idiotic nation building.
Let the fools in the Middle East and the rest of the world fight it out.
Use our military as it is supposed to be used…Quick and effective DEFENSE.
You screw with us and you have a new glass city.
We do NOT need the Middle East oil supply. That is a TOTAL farce. Let them eat their oil and grow their own damn food. See who comes to their knees first!
brianoflondon
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 6:35amKornets were used many times by Hezb’allah in Lebanon in 2006. It‘s no surprise they’re migrating to the terrorists within Israel’s borders now.
Report Post »Krazy_Kreepy_Ketchup
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 6:34amNope-nothing to see in the in the middle east or iran. Go back to sleep America.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 7:04amRP has the fix http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDvaTqLlZlA
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