Israel’s Defense Minister Slams Russian Sophisticated-Weapons Deliveries to Middle East

Hezbollah’s troops are using modern and sophisticated Russian-made anti-tank missiles against Israel’s army in fights in the South of Lebanon, Israel’s defense minister Amir Peretz said Wednesday, RIA Novosti news agency reports. “We are fighting against the Iranian commando, which is armed with sophisticated, modern weaponry. This includes Russian-made anti-tank missiles, which in the past it was promised would not fall into the hands of Hezbollah. This weapon is used today against IDF soldiers in Lebanon,” Peretz said during the meeting with the German Foreign Minister, Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, ynetnews.com reports. The Gaaretz newspaper claimed on Sunday that Hezbollah used Russian-made RPG-29 anti-tank missiles, which were sold to Syria by Russia, and then to Hezbollah. RPG-29 missiles are able to break through the heavy armor of Israel’s “Merkava” tanks. Hezbollah fighters also use RPG’s against Israeli troops. Israel found out that Hezbollah possesses Russian-made anti-tank missiles in November 2005, after Hezbollah fighters had attacked Israel’s army in Radjar village.