Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., August 16, 2008 Av 15, 5768 | | Israel Time: 15:46 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  310
Last update - 10:47 06/08/2008
IAF: Hezbollah anti-aircraft missiles could threaten Israeli planes
By Amos Harel and Barak Ravid
Tags: IAF, Hezbollah, Israel 

If Hezbollah installs advanced anti-aircraft batteries in Lebanon, the Israel Air Force will have to alter its overflights of Lebanon significantly, a senior IAF officer told Haaretz Tuesday.

However, he added that the IAF has successfully coped with similar threats elsewhere, and could do so in Lebanon as well.

Senior government and army officials have recently held feverish discussions on this scenario. Some of those involved have termed the installation of anti-aircraft batteries a "red line" to which Israel would have to respond with a "violent signal."
Advertisement
There have been conflicting reports in the Arabic media as to whether Hezbollah has already smuggled in such missiles, or is merely seeking to do so. Senior General Staff officers opined recently that while Hezbollah clearly wants such missiles eventually, they doubt it is interested in heating up its conflict with Israel just now.

Meanwhile, the diplomatic-security cabinet will meet Wednesday to discuss the situation in Lebanon, and especially Hezbollah's rampant arms-smuggling via Syria. The Foreign Ministry plans to recommend that Israel seek to increase international pressure on Syria to halt this smuggling.

Israel views this matter as urgent, especially in light of the reports that Hezbollah is trying to smuggle in sophisticated anti-aircraft batteries. This will be the cabinet's second discussion on the matter in recent weeks.

In addition to upping the pressure on Syria, Israel would also like the international community to increase pressure on Russia, since some of the sophisticated weaponry Hezbollah is procuring is Russian-made.

Another key focus of today's discussion will be the new government guidelines the Lebanese cabinet adopted last week, which formally authorize Hezbollah to attack Israel whenever it pleases.

Related articles:
  • ANALYSIS / In anti-aircraft crisis, Hezbollah aims higher
  • UNIFIL: We vow to try to rescue any soldier captured in Lebanon
  • Hezbollah: 'Practical measures' against IAF overflights
  • MI chief: Hezbollah may try to attack north soon
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    IDF 'defeat' in Georgia
    Nasrallah says 'failed' IDF generals responsible for Georgia defeat in war.
    'We are one family'
    Miki Goldwasser says her family's goal is now to bring Gilad Shalit home.
      1.   WOW! 03:38  |  Axel 06/08/08
      2.   Les talk more action 04:00  |  Dan 06/08/08
      3.   No Hezbo terrorists, no overflights 04:02  |  Duhhhhhhh 06/08/08
      4.   The Israeli parliament should vote to make the flights legal 04:06  |  If they can do this 06/08/08
      5.   Israel keeps hallucinating about Hezbollah 04:15  |  Aounist 06/08/08
      6.   What is Israel making over flights over another nation 04:16  |  Amazing 06/08/08
      7.   Lebanon cease fire is null and void 04:22  |  bernard ross 06/08/08
      8.   Hezbollah is Not Allowed to Attack As It Pleases 04:32  |  Bernie 06/08/08
      9.   I agree with Dan 04:49  |  Art Skell 06/08/08
      10.   Arabs act - Israelis talk 04:55  |  Brazilian Jew 06/08/08
      11.   Israeli leadership is CONFUSED... 04:58  |  ali 06/08/08
      12.   Israel, please stop falling into hizbola`s traps.. 05:10  |  Jimmy 06/08/08
      13.   What Israel wants. 05:15  |  Ramachandran Nair 06/08/08
      14.   Let Hezbollah fly over Israel 05:15  |  Christo 06/08/08
      15.   #5 Lebanon strong and courageous? 05:20  |  Steve 06/08/08
      16.   Aounist 05:20  |  Francisco Scaramanga 06/08/08
      17.   Keep your Planes Out of Lebanese Airspace 05:22  |  Clear Minded One 06/08/08
      18.   Israeli flights - Amazing is right 05:52  |  Michael 06/08/08
      19.   Are the El Als in danger too? 05:55  |  Al 06/08/08
      20.   Why are you people so blind 06:02  |  Sunny Johnny 06/08/08
      21.   Isn`t UNIFIL there to prevent arms transfers to Hizballa? 06:21  |  Bender Dondat 06/08/08
      22.   Give a fool a gun 06:23  |  Natallie Durson 06/08/08
      23.   Reality Check - State of War 06:24  |  Mike T. 06/08/08
      24.   #20 - Sunny Johnny 06:40  |  MichaelF 06/08/08
      25.   #6 - Amazing 06:42  |  MichaelF 06/08/08
      26.   #20 Johhny 06:45  |  GPS 06/08/08
      27.   #17 - Cloudy Minded One 06:46  |  MichaelF 06/08/08
      28.   Inconveniencing the IAF 07:02  |  Mark of Lewiston 06/08/08
      29.   with a criminal country like Israel, Hezbullah has the 07:05  |  Indonesian 06/08/08
      30.   Behind Hezbollah`s deeds is the fine hand of Iran. 07:08  |  Jean Van Daem 06/08/08
      31.   Would this new radar make the difference ? 07:10  |  Jean Van Daem 06/08/08
      32.   21 Bender Dondat 07:11  |  Mark of Lewiston 06/08/08
      33.   MichaelF 07:25  |  Sunny Johnny 06/08/08
      34.   Dan 07:26  |  Walid 06/08/08
      35.   Durson`s dreck 07:31  |  Rondi 06/08/08
      36.   Lebanese Airspace 07:36  |  Ron 06/08/08
      37.   Simply: stop the ilegal flights jackass!! 07:38  |  Niva dos Santos 06/08/08
      38.   ARMS TO GEORGIA & HEZBOLLAH 07:45  |  PARIS 06/08/08
      39.   Israel must attack 07:54  |  Cristian Salas 06/08/08
      40.   Israel must attack 07:54  |  Cristian Salas 06/08/08
      41.   #21 Go read 1701, Bender Dondat 07:59  |  Johnboy 06/08/08
      42.   The most amazing arrogance 08:07  |  Johnboy 06/08/08
      43.   Indonesian idiot 08:11  |  judith 06/08/08
      44.   #4 Riiiiiiiight. The Knesset can legislate aggression. 08:14  |  Johnboy 06/08/08
      45.   ISRAEL PAYING A DANGEROUS GAME 08:32  |  VIPER 06/08/08
      46.   #29 Go get himTiger and tell him about IndonesianMuslims 08:45  |  Judith 06/08/08
      47.   Niva de santos and al. 08:49  |  Francisco Scaramanga 06/08/08
      48.   To #15 Steve: Ask the IDF soldiers of July 06 war if the lebs are 08:54  |  Aounist 06/08/08
      49.   THE WORLD NEEDS TO WAKE UP 08:54  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/08/08
      50.   #28, Mark of Lewiston 09:02  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/08/08
      51.   I agree with Art Skell 09:07  |  Dan 06/08/08
      52.   Christo, let me get it right for you, No Hezbo, No flights Duhhhh 09:14  |  Dan 06/08/08
      53.   Clear Minded One seems to be a bit uncleard about something 09:20  |  Dan 06/08/08
      54.   Walid You want Hezbo, you will get overflights 09:25  |  Dan 06/08/08
      55.   How can Israeli planes fly over Lebanon when it does not exists? 09:28  |  Dan 06/08/08
      56.   Er...Israel isn`t supposed to overfly Lebanon 09:32  |  Clickfool 06/08/08
      57.   CLEAR MINDED ONE Stop threatening Israel.From Lebanon 09:38  |  PETER SM 06/08/08
      58.   On the "fine" hand of Hezbollah # 30 09:40  |  Clickfool 06/08/08
      59.   Ron 09:45  |  Walid 06/08/08
      60.   Natallie Durson 10:00  |  Walid 06/08/08
      61.   Sob! sob! "boo hoo ...Daddy! I want some new toys to play with" 10:04  |  Chanalau, Tova 06/08/08
      62.   #33 Sunny Johnny 10:12  |  David 06/08/08
      63.   #5 aounist... aounist= jack ass like ure boss! 10:20  |  sinalco 06/08/08
      64.   Walid - I can see why you believe this, but--- 10:25  |  Natallie Durson 06/08/08
      65.   100% legitimate method of watching your enemy 10:26  |  Steve 06/08/08
      66.   Big Big mistake 10:36  |  Steve 06/08/08
      67.   HEZBOLLAH DESTROYED 15 MERKAVAS 10:40  |  indrajaya 06/08/08
      68.   Steve and his Bogus BS 10:46  |  Guy From NYC 06/08/08
      69.   O yeah, Natallie (22) instead the US should 10:46  |  Jew- and Bookburner 06/08/08
      70.   A funny joke! 10:52  |  Persian Hero 06/08/08
      71.   Haaretz, pl put out my 2 posts