Sophisticated M600 Missiles Put Tel Aviv in Range of Hizbullah

The Media Line (Link) (May 5, 2010)

Syria has provided Hizbullah with a supply of M600 missiles during the past year according to the head of research for Israel�s military intelligence. The Syrian copy of an Iranian design has a range of 187 miles, which places Tel Aviv, Israel�s largest city, within Hizbullah�s sights. The weapon carries an explosive payload of up to one-half ton.

Attention was recently focused on whether Syria has transferred Scud missiles to Hizbullah � a charge American and Israeli leaders have since been wary of making. But word that Hizbullah has M600s renders the Scud issue less significant because of the missile�s range and the power it packs.

The majority of Israel�s population is clustered within the greater Tel Aviv area. The revelation was made before the parliament�s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee by Brigadier General Yossi Baidatz, the army�s head of intelligence research. He confirmed what most believe: that Hizbullah today is much stronger than it was when it fought a war against Israel in 2006. Drawing the line to Damascus, Baidatz said that �Hezbollah is now regarded by the Syrians as a component of their defense establishment.�