News
Hezbollah said to be establishing missile base in Syria
New satellite images indicate that Hezbollah is constructing a base in Syria to store Iranian ballistic missiles, which could be used to strike Israel.
Hezbollah is a staunch ally of the Assad regime in Syria and has fought alongside Syrian government troops for much of the Syrian Civil War. Both Hezbollah and Assad are heavily backed by Iranian funds and arms. A report released yesterday by the global intelligence company Stratfor suggests that Hezbollah is establishing a base in Syria itself, which will help both Hezbollah and Iran maintain influence in Syria whatever the outcome of the current conflict there.
Stratfor says that new satellite images bolster reports that a base is being constructed near the town of Qusair, which lies near the Syria-Lebanon border, describing it as “part of Hezbollah’s future strategy in the country.” The report says that, “Along with its patron Iran, Hezbollah recognizes that Syria’s war is an opportunity to establish a strong position near the country’s border with Lebanon.” As such, the Qusair base can reportedly maintain a permanent presence of 3,000 fighters, plus storage for sophisticated artillery and even battle tanks.
Apparently, officers from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard frequently visit the base. Crucially, the report suggests that Iranian ballistic missiles such as the Shabab-1, Shahab-2 and Fateh-110 are being stored at Qusair. Stratfor says, “Any of these missiles could be used to strike Israel” and “could prove crucial in the event of a large-scale Israeli ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon.”
However, Stratfor stresses that the Qusair missiles “are not beyond the reach of the Israeli air force.” Although Israel has sat firmly on the side-lines of the Syrian conflict, Israeli leaders have consistently reiterated that action will be taken if attempts are made to transfer weapons to terror groups such as Hezbollah, amid the fog of war. Israel is thought to have conducted air strikes against weapons shipments on a number of occasions near the Syria-Lebanon border.