[Ha'aretz] Yossi Melman - Maj.-Gen. (res.) Eitan Ben Eliahu, commander of the Israel Air Force from 1996 to 2000, this week surveyed the changes in Israel's national security doctrine amid the changing nature of wars at a meeting of the Israel Missile Defense Association. Ben Eliahu estimates that in the next war, Syria and Iran might launch between 250 and 300 long-range missiles at Israel (Shahab and Scud missiles) and another 5,000 short-range missiles (mainly from Hizbullah in Lebanon). To intercept a single long-range missile, one needs an average of two intercepting missiles and between 500 and 700 missiles in all. In addition, Israel must keep another 200 intercepting missiles in reserve. To destroy the short-range missiles, Israel will need mainly ground forces. And above all Israel must grant high priority to development methods for confronting the chemical and nuclear threat.
2008-07-04 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive