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Last update - 12:28 20/05/2009
Iran says it test fired new surface-to-surface missile capable of hitting Israel
By The Associated Press
Tags: Iran, Ballistic missiles 

Iran has successfully test-fired a new generation of long range surface-to-surface missile using solid fuel, making them more accurate than its predecessors, the defense minister announced Wednesday. The new missiles also have a range of about 1,200 miles, giving them the ability to strike Israel.

Mostafa Mohammed Najjar said on state television that the Sajjil was a
high-speed missile manufactured at the Iranian Aerospace department of the Defense Ministry.
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Solid fuel missiles are more accurate than the liquid fuel missiles of similar range currently possessed by Iran.

The official IRNA news agency said the test was conducted Wednesday and television showed the missile being fired Wednesday from a launching pad in a desert region.

This missile is a two-stage weapon with two combined solid-fuel engines and has an extraordinary high capability, the television quote Najjar as saying.

He didn't elaborate.

Najjar said the missile was a defensive weapon and not a response to threats against Iran. He didn't name any country but Israel has recently threatened to take military action against Iran to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb.

"This missile test was conducted within the framework of a defensive, deterrent strategy ... and specifically with defensive objectives," Najjar added.

Iran is known to possess a medium-range ballistic missile known as the
Shahab-3, which means shooting star in Farsi, with a range of at least 800 miles. In 2005, Iranian officials said they had improved the range of the Shahab-3 to 1,200 miles.

Iran's Shahab-3 missile has been known to use liquid fuel. Missiles using
liquid fuel have are less accurate.

In September 2007 during a military parade, Iran unveiled another missile, the Ghadr, which it said has a range of 1,120 miles.

Iran launched an arms development program during its 1980-88 war with Iraq to compensate for a U.S. weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and a fighter plane.

This week, construction of a base was completedat Mount Keren near the Ketziot prison in the Negev, which will house a new early warning radar system meant to augment Israel's defenses against Iranian ground-to-ground missiles.

The radar is connected to a U.S. satellite warning system, which is meant to bolster Israel's defensive capabilities by issuing an immediate warning in the event of an enemy missile launch. 120 American civilians and soldiers will man the base, in what is the first time permanent stationing of American military personnel on Israeli soil.

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  • Peres warns Olmert: Attack on Iran could spark wide-scale war
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      1.   SAUDI PEACE PLAN 13:20  |  Neutered Observer 12/11/08
      2.   Make believe it`s not happening on second thought you won`t do 14:50  |  Rosie T. 12/11/08
      3.   to Neutered Observer, Israel wants peace, but only by respect 15:07  |  JP 12/11/08
      4.   Neutered Observer - No Peace Plan... its time for people like 15:13  |  BF 12/11/08
      5.   #1 answer my challenge neuter how can it work ? 15:21  |  victor hardman 12/11/08
      6.   To #3 JP: When it comes to Iran, Isr only dares to bark not bite 15:51  |  Aounist 12/11/08
      7.   Iran doesn`t need nukes. 16:12  |  Lou Medel 12/11/08
      8.   not gonna happen 16:21  |  a jew 12/11/08
      9.   #7 You are wrong 16:22  |  Siad 12/11/08
      10.   aounist 16:26  |  strange 12/11/08
      11.   It`s telling us to get an oooh I`m scared reaction. 17:43  |  x-ray 12/11/08
      12.   Waisted money 17:50  |  Abuya 12/11/08
      13.   The Tides Are Turning 17:53  |  Cool B 12/11/08
      14.   #1 saudi peace plan is older 17:54  |  Siad 12/11/08
      15.   to # 7 19:13  |  Nasser 12/11/08
      16.   Will Israel wait 19:38  |  Nechama 12/11/08
      17.   Associated Press and Fake Pictures 19:45  |  UsedToPostHere 12/11/08
      18.   re: Nasser 19:49  |  UsedToPostHere 12/11/08
      19.   re: Cool B 19:52  |  UsedToPostHere 12/11/08
      20.   re: Abuya 19:54  |  UsedToPostHere 12/11/08
      21.   If israel can`t neutralize hamas how will 19:58  |  I ran, Is real 12/11/08
      22.   Cool B The Tides Have Turned 20:52  |  Golani 12/11/08
      23.   Another piece of junk propaganda. 20:58  |  Stephen. 12/11/08
      24.   #19 21:38  |  Cool B 12/11/08
      25.   #22 Golani 21:55  |  Cool B 12/11/08
      26.   # 23 stephen 22:02  |  Axel 12/11/08
      27.   # 22 golani 23:56  |  Axel 12/11/08
      28.   ##8, Iran will attack Israel along with Russia. 00:08  |  gary 13/11/08
      29.   I trust all those worried about Iran`s self defense weapons... 02:36  |  Maureen Ann 13/11/08
      30.   Golani`s lust for war. 03:17  |  Neutered Observer 13/11/08
      31.   They Will Be Able To Hit Europe 03:28  |  Yosemite 13/11/08
      32.   And Iran will soon send men to Mars 04:33  |  Murray of Montreal 13/11/08
      33.   the customer is always right 06:54  |  Capt Ahab 13/11/08
      34.   re: Cool B 20:47  |  UsedToPostHere 13/11/08
      35.   #30, Did Anyone Check the relative size ... 21:49  |  Gary 13/11/08
      36.   re: Gary 04:11  |  UsedToPostHere 14/11/08
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