GAZA CITY — Hamas has for the first time reported firing surface-to-air missiles
at Israeli aircraft.
Hamas said its new army launched SAMs toward Israeli attack helicopters
that operated over the Gaza Strip. The Islamic regime, in the first such
announcement, said the air defense systems were employed on Dec. 20 during
an Israeli military operation in the central Gaza Strip.
"Our fighters opened intense fire from more than one weapon at 11:30
a.m., and forced the surprised IAF helicopters to withdraw," a Hamas
statement said.
Hamas distributed leaflets throughout the Gaza Strip that reported the
use of SAMs. The regime said the Israel Air Force helicopters had been
operating over the refugee camps of Al Muazi and Bureij.
The Israeli military has not confirmed the Hamas report. But the
military said Hamas has acquired at least 50 surface-to-air missiles and
launchers, smuggled from the Gaza Strip.
"We know they have been bringing in SAM-7s or similar weapons," a
military source said. "Our helicopter pilots operate on the assumption that
Hamas could use these weapons."
Hamas has not identified its SAM system. Earlier, Palestinian sources
said the Islamic regime has sought to develop an indigenous variant of the
SAM-7, with a range of 3.5 kilometers.
