IDF: Hizbullah uses Russian rockets

[occuserpens]

-- RPG-29 and SA-18 are completely different weapons: the first one is anti-tank, the second is anti-aircraft.

-- It is not clear how RPG is useful for abductions.

-- Russians deny SA-18 sales to Syria.

-- RPGs are as easily available on black market as iPods.

1. Smadar Peri. IDF: Hizbullah uses Russian rockets: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3191909,00.html
Farkash noted that Hizbullah terrorists involved in the attempt to abduct soldiers on the Lebanese border about a month ago fired RPG-29 rockets. "Those are Russian-made rockets purchased by the Syrians in recent years and handed over to Hizbullah," he said.
"We are talking about a high-impact weapon because it has deep penetration capabilities," Farkash said. "The usage of rockets against us explains why Israel strongly opposed the sale of SA-18 missiles to Syria."

2. RPG-29: http://world.guns.ru/grenade/gl04-e.htm

3. SA-18: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/sa-18.htm

4. http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/01/283c0081-3538-4883-989d-54bceb638b53.html

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/App/TalkBack/CdaViewOpenTalkBack/0,11362,L-3191909,00.html

[bemildred]

1. IIRC

Russia recently made a deal to sell SA-18s to Syria, a deal strenuously objected to by Israel and the US, and those objections have been ignored so far. I'm not sure if any SA-18s have been delivered. In any case, I think that is what this fellow is referring to, he is bolstering the case for stopping the SA-18 deal, not conflating RPG-29s (a fine weapon) with the SA-18s. He's trying to say: "See they gave RPG-29s to Hiz'bullah, so they will give the SA-18s to Hiz'bullah too."

[occuserpens]

2. The point is,

there are no indications that portable SA-18s are sold to Syria. The negotiations were about larger SAMs. As for RPGs, there are lots of them on the black market.

Apparently, the journalist creates all this confusion on purpose!

[bemildred]

3. Yes, I see. You are right.

It was more than Stingers that were being discussed. I'd forgotten that.

More context from February:

Israel first reported on the crisis in relations with Russian in early January. Then, Israel informed the U.S administration that Russian-Israeli relations had been brought to the brink of a serious crisis due to Moscow’s decision to sell Iskander high-precision tactical missile complexes to Syria.

Israel voiced serious concern, claiming that if the Iskanders were deployed, for example, near the demarcation line in the Golan Heights area, virtually all of Israel would be within the missiles’ range. They would be able to hit targets in Israel with an accuracy range of 20 meters, Russia’s Kommersant newspaper wrote.


http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/02/15/syrmissile.shtml

And Russia defending the sale:

"A contract for delivery to Iran of TOR air defense missile systems has indeed been signed," local news agencies quoted Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov as saying after a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"It in no way upsets the balance of forces in the region," Ivanov said, adding: "Any delivery of weapons by Russia is carried out in the framework of the law and taking account of international obligations."

Russian media, quoting unnamed senior defense ministry officials, reported Friday that Iran had agreed to purchase 29 TOR M1 mobile surface-to-air missile defence systems from Russia in a contract worth more than 700 mln dollars (600 mln euros).

The TOR-M1 is a mobile system designed for operation at medium- and low-altitude against aircraft and guided missiles. Each unit consists of a vehicle armed with eight missiles and a radar that can track 48 targets and engage two simultaneously.

http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=38420&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs