Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — An Al Qaida-aligned militia has unveiled a surface-to-air missile in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

The militia, Majlis Shura Al Mujahadeen, has displayed a man-portable surface-to-air missile during the Israeli war with Hamas. Majlis, regarded as aligned with Al Qaida, provided few details of the weapon in an online video released on July 21.

“We have not forgotten or deserted you,” an unidentified fighter who held the SAM said.

The video, reported by the Washington-based Middle East Media Research Institute, showed a fighter as saying that Majlis acquired the anti-aircraft weapon. The fighter also said it was working with Hamas in the war against Israel.

The Israeli military has reported SAM fire against helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles around the Gaza Strip. The military has assessed that the fire stemmed from the Russian-origin SA-7, with a range of 3.5 kilometers.

The video marked the return of Majlis after an absence of nearly two years. In 2012, the Hamas regime rounded up dozens of members, which sparked an exile to neighboring Egypt.

“This is a confirmation that the MSM is again operating, at one level or other, inside Gaza,” Middle East Media said.

  Al Qaida video from Gaza shows shoulder-fired missile, helicopters, Majlis Shura Al Mujahadeen, SA-7