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Monday, December 24, 2007       Free Headline Alerts

Hamas reports firing SAMs at Israeli helicopters

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.

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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.


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