Terrorist / Weapon roundup = Sophisticated Weapons

1: Hizbullah's use of C-802 cruise missile sets precedent for terror groups

2: Al Qaida using Iraq as proving ground for recruits, explosives

3: Hizbullah stockpiling rockets in Lebanon's refugee camps

4: Israeli military charges Egypt secretly backing huge arms smuggling network

Hizbullah's use of C-802 cruise missile sets precedent for terror groups
The U.S. military has deemed Hizbullah a major threat in the Middle East after the Central Command studied Hizbullah's military capabilities following its 34-day war against Israel, which ended on Aug. 14.

"I believe this is the first time we've seen a terrorist group use this kind of capability." Gulf Times
Officials said the most worrisome aspect of Hizbullah was its use of advanced Iranian weaponry. They included the attack on an Israel navy corvette on July 14 with a Chinese-origin C-802 cruise missile. Hizbullah fired C-802s on at least three occasions, and in one case missed an Israeli corvette but struck and sank a Cambodian-flagged merchant ship.

Central Command believes that Iran would use Hizbullah in any confrontation with the United States. Officials envision Iran supplying Hizbullah with the most advanced tactical weapons, which could include nonconventional warheads. The C-802 is regarded as one of the most effective missiles in the world.

"It should not be lost on us, for example, that Hizbullah fields greater and longer-range weapons than most regional armed forces," Central Command chief Gen. John Abizaid told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Aug. 3. "If left unchecked, it is possible to imagine chemical, biological or even nuclear weapons being transferred to militias or terrorist organizations by a state actor."

Officials said Hizbullah's capabilities meant U.S. Navy ships could never patrol the eastern Mediterranean without armed escort or heightened security. The C-802 anti-ship cruise missile, with a range of about 120 kilometers and an explosive payload of up to 165 kilograms, requires a shore-based radar for over-the-horizon targeting.

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