Lebanese-based Iranian forces have received ballistic missiles that are capable of carrying a half-ton chemical or conventional warhead as far as Tel Aviv, the London Sunday Times reported Sunday.
The British weekly said the Zelzal-2 missiles have an estimated range of 240 km and it quotes an Israeli intelligence expert as saying that the deployment "has changed the strategic balance and limited Israeli military options."
The paper also quotes Israeli military sources as saying that the missiles are intended "to deter Israel from mounting any preemptive strike on Iranian nuclear installations." The missiles can be deployed extremely quickly.
The Iranians claim to have developed the Zelzal-2 (earthquake) missile alone, but they are believed to have received assistance in the project from Russia and China. (Albawaba.com)
