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Israel: Palestinians have surface-to-air missiles

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Monday, January 24, 2005

TEL AVIV –– Israel has reduced air flights around the Gaza Strip in fear of being attacked by Palestinian surface-to-air missiles.

Israeli officials said authorities have reduced civilian flights inside Israel near the Gaza Strip. They said the move was taken after the Israeli military concluded that the Palestinians have short-range surface-to-air missiles.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Dec. 27 that Palestinian insurgency groups and the Palestinian Authority have obtained anti-aircraft missiles. Sharon did not say how many, but security officials said they comprise at least five SA-7 short-range surface-to-air missiles.

Officials said authorities have banned the flight of crop duster planes in agricultural areas near the Gaza Strip. They said authorities were concerned that these light planes would become the first targets of Palestinian anti-aircraft missiles.

The ban on flights along the Gaza Strip would continue until the PA begins a crackdown on Palestinian insurgents. Officials said the Sharon government has warned the PA of harsh retaliation for any anti-aircraft missile strike.

Israel has been increasingly replacing its air force helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft missions with unmanned aerial vehicles. The UAVs were said to include those platforms that could fire missiles toward insurgency targets.


Copyright © 2005 East West Services, Inc.

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