Military sources said Hamas was believed to have acquired and deployed
several SAM systems developed in China and Iran. They said these systems
could threaten any Israeli fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft over the Gaza
Strip.
"Today, Hamas has developed a credible threat to our aircraft," a senior
military officer said.
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The officer said Hamas has acquired the SA-7 and SA-14 shoulder-fired
air defense systems. He said over the last year, Hamas has developed SAM
techniques that could down Israeli helicopters and low-flying fixed-wing
aircraft.
"We believe Hamas received its first SA-7s before Operation Cast Lead,"
the officer, referring to the Hamas-Israel war in late 2008, said. "Now,
Hamas has enough of these systems and capabilities to use them."
The air defense systems were said to have been sent to the Gaza Strip by
Iran. The sources said Iran shipped the small SAMs in merchant ships to
Egypt and then transported through the Sinai Peninsula to the Gaza Strip.
The sources said the Israel Air Force has been training helicopter and
fixed-wing pilots to avoid Hamas attacks. They said the Air Force has
ordered pilots to fly above the projected range of the Soviet-origin
surface-to-air missiles.
"There has been greater use of UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] for
reconnaissance," another military source said.
Comments
To prevent another catastrophe and another "Goldstone" report by the UN it is time for the Palestinians to have such capabilities to defend themselves, and to close what is an open range for the Zionists entity to massacre the Palestinian population at will. The occupiers have to face the reality of the situation that they have created. These capabilities which are increasing in their effectiveness will give the Zionists a chance to think twice before committing to such actions and foolishness.
Free Palestine.
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