Hizbullah has solid-fuel, 'doomsday' rocket from Iran

TEL AVIV — Hizbullah has deployed what Western sources term a strategic rocket for attacks against major Israeli population centers.

Israeli intelligence sources said Hizbullah has the Zelzal-1 surface-to-surface rocket. The sources said the solid-fuel has been termed strategic and was acquired from Iran.

"This is Hizbullah's doomsday weapon," a senior Israeli officer said.

On July 17, Israeli warplanes struck a Zelzal-1 mobile site near Beirut.

The Israeli bombs ignited the rocket, which flew briefly over Beirut and sparked rumors that an Israel Air Force jet had been downed.

Information on the Zelzal-1, first deployed at the end of Iran-Iraq war, has been sketchy. Israeli sources said the rocket has a range of between 120 and 180 kilometers. Developed in cooperation with China, the rocket measures 8.3 meters and carries a 600-kilogram payload. Iran has already developed the Zelzal-2 with a range of 210 kilometers.

Brig. Gen. Yohanan Locker, head of air force intelligence, said the air force struck a Zelzal launcher and missile mounted on a truck. When the truck was struck the rocket was ignited and propelled into the air.

For months, the military was uncertain whether Hizbullah obtained the Zelzal from Iran. But over the past few days, Israeli intelligence has determined that Hizbullah obtained 10 to 12 Zelzal-1 rockets and plans to use them to strike Tel Aviv.

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