Iran Test-Fires Long-Range Missile
On April 7, we noted a report that Iran was preparing to test a nuclear-capable ballistic missile named the Shihab-3.
Today they tested it, but apparently there were some problems: Jerusalem Post: Iran test-fires long-range missile.
Iran conducted a test launch Tuesday night of the Shihab-3 intermediate-range ballistic missile, which is capable of reaching Israel and US targets in the region, Israel Radio reported. The test came hours before Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with US President George W Bush in Washington to discuss the Iranian threat.
Military officials said it was not clear if this most recent test indicated an advance in the capabilities of the Shihab 3. They said the test was likely timed to coincide with the Washington summit and with comments made by Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah during celebrations in Beirut marking the 6th anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
“What deters the enemy from launching an aggression is the resistance’s continuous readiness to respond,” Nasrallah told scores of supporters. “Northern Israel today is within the range of the resistance’s rockets. The ports, bases, factories and everything is within that range.”
The Shihab test was only “partly successful,” according to news reports. The nature of the difficulties was not clear.