Israel has commissioned a “new precision rocket” system capable of reaching every point in the Middle East, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has announced.
The new system will allow the Israeli military “to cover, within a few years, every point in the region,” Lieberman said on Monday, in a statement quoted by AFP.
The purchase from state-owned Israel Military Industries will be in the hundreds of millions of Shekels (3.63 to the US dollar), he said via his official Twitter account.
“We are making the IDF [Israel Defense Force] stronger, more diversified, and sophisticated,” he added.
Israel is understood to be the sole nuclear power in the Middle East. Its military is considered the most advanced in the region.
But over the past six years, Israeli military officials have watched developments in neighboring Syria with concern, as Iranian proxy Hezbollah gained crucial battlefield experience.
The Israeli air force has carried out periodic strikes in Syria over the course of the civil war, typically targeting Hezbollah arms shipments or what it has labeled as Iranian military infrastructure.
The new rocket system could offer an alternative to those sorties.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in an August 14 speech marking the end of Israel’s 2006 war against Lebanon, boasted that his forces now surpass the Israeli army as the strongest in the region.
Does anybody actually listen to Hassan Nasrallah?
Joe Wong . One thing has nothing to do with the other.
Nasrallah has been ranting and raving for years. If Hezbollah was more powerful than Israel do you think there would still be an Israel? He is a vassal of the Ayatollahs and their days are numbered, too!
David Wolff It makes 35 years I hear this. Bush said that already
now is the time for destruction of Israel
Who the hell wants to go to London and Paris these days? Unless you are a refugee!
mayb arguing 4 being t strongest army in t region is a stretch,but still he is t most earthed leader of ME, understands the dynamic in lebanese civil & political world, & is being uniting power capable of coexisting with all sorts of politicians, even the saudi proxies.against israel he is not answering the numerous provocations (even the murdering of some of his top lieutenants)
not to escalate t animosity with t rogue state of israel.as for their battle capabilities,they were by far t most efficient military fraction in syrian war & won t 2006 war.not to forget that israelis shit their pants in case of open confrontation,& prefer to shoot unarmed civilians in gaza,while hiding behind usa when provoking in syria
Rami Stefanos Unarmed civilians? You are blinded by Pallywood propaganda. Hamas admits that their soldiers are involved in trying to breach the border. Are you calling Hama liars?2
Ha ha ha! It’s been tried for the last 70 years. The Arabs haven’t won a war since the 15th century except against other Arabs (you can look that up). What have the Arabs contributed to society as a whole besides falafel and Lebanese Sweets? Israel has made the world a better place by creating technology, medical and scientific discoveries, agricultural enhancements, water reclamation, and a whole lot more. Israel doesn’t need to try to destroy the Arab countries, they are doing a great job of it on their own: Syria, Libya, Sudan, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, etc. The Arabs should strive for peace with Israel and with each other.