DEBKAfile Special Report February 3, 2009, 11:05 PM (GMT+02:00) Iranian satellite goes into orbit The White House and Pentagon issued strong statements Tuesday, Feb. 3 about the dangers posed by the launch of Iran's first homemade satellite into space. DEBKAfile notes that none of the leading contenders in Israel's Feb. 10 general election, including the defense and foreign ministers - or even prime minister Ehud Olmert - saw fit to react to the event. In Washington, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said any effort to develop missile delivery capability, continue an illicit nuclear program, threaten Israel and sponsor terror is an "acute concern to this administration." DEBKAfile Special Report February 3, 2009, 11:54 AM (GMT+02:00) Iran launches satellite Omid into orbit The launch of Omid (Hope), Iran's first home-made satellite into orbit early Tuesday, Feb. 3, is a breakthrough demonstrating the Islamic Republic has managed to develop long-range, three-stage, solid fuel ballistic rockets capable of carrying nuclear warheads. DEBKAfile's Iranian sources stress that the credit for this feat belongs to Iran's "Military Group" – the team of scientists and technicians working on its clandestine nuclear bomb program. Coming DEBKA-Net-Weekly Exclusive February 3, 2009, 12:57 PM (GMT+02:00) The new US administration has finalized its policies for the Middle East. The coming DEBKA-Net-Weeklysheds first light on some of Barack Obama's key decisions on how to handle Iran and its nuclear program, future relations with Israel, the Palestinian question and much more. Don't miss our next issue out next Friday. You will find answers there to some of the most hotly-debated world issues of the day. To subscribe to DEBKA-Net-Weeklyclick HERE . DEBKAfile Exclusive Report February 4, 2009, 9:04 AM (GMT+02:00) Iran arms ship in Limassol DEBKA file's military sources report that the Cypriot-flagged Monchegorskrenamed Iran Hedaytheld at Limassol since last week was carrying 10 containers of Iranian rockets and other weapons for rearming Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Cyprus has reported to the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on its findings in two inspections of the vessel but has not published them. DEBKAfile Exclusive Report January 31, 2009, 6:48 PM (GMT+02:00) Iran's C-802 shore-to-ship missile DEBKAfile's military sources reveal a formidable addition to Hamas' arsenal: The missile fired from Gaza out to the Mediterranean last week was not a Qassam as reported but a C-802, the Iranian shore-to-ship Nur C-802 missile, which is based on the Chinese "Silkworm." It was launched by Iranian officers who are training Hamas operatives in its use before delivering a large consignment. With its 120-km range and 165-kilo warhead, the C-802's mission is to break Israel's 40 km blockade of Gaza's waters. This is now the key objective of Tehran and the Palestinian Islamists. DEBKAfile Special Report February 3, 2009, 10:39 PM (GMT+02:00) Israel's low-key reprisals Saturday night and Sunday, Feb. 1-2, had little effect on the Palestinian missile and mortar fire from Gaza ongoing for the sixth straight day in violation of the ceasefire Hamas declared Jan. 19. Hamas is taking its line from Tehran where its leader Khaled Meshaal urged Iranian students to join the Palestinian Islamist movement in helping "to liberate" Jerusalem and "all of Palestine" so they can "pray together" in the holy city. DEBKAfile Exclusive Report February 3, 2009, 9:41 PM (GMT+02:00) Gaza ceasefire? Decision in Tehran On the third day of his talks with Iranian leaders in Tehran, Hamas' supreme leader Khaled Meshaal urged Iranian students to join his Islamist movement in helping liberate all of Palestine, secure the return of all Palestinians and retake Jerusalem so that "we can pray together." Tehran's aggressive line ensured that the talks Hamas representatives are holding in Cairo on a long-term ceasefire will stall and the missiles will keep coming from Gaza against Israel. Click HERE to see DEBKA Video. DEBKAfile Special Report February 2, 2009, 8:18 AM (GMT+02:00) Hassan Nasrallah DEBKAfile's counter-terror sources report that last week the Lebanese Hizballah put together a large number of terrorist teams and deployed them in six countries for attacks on Israeli targets. This intelligence prompted the counter-terror bureau in Jerusalem to publish Sunday, Feb. 1, an exceptionally high alert for traveling Israelis to be on the lookout for terrorist attacks including abductions. Security is also high in Israel and at embassies and Jewish institutions worldwide. Obama administration gravely concerned by first all-Iranian satellite
More...Iran's first spy satellite launch Tuesday signifies nuclear-capable rocket in hand
More...Obama's Middle East policies take shape
Iranian arms ship in Cyprus carries 10 containers of rockets for Hamas
More...Hamas fires first Iranian shore-to-ship C-802 missile from Gaza
More...Palestinian long-range Grad rocket hits Ashkelon center
More...Meshaal urges Iranian students to join Islamist liberation of all Palestine
More...Hizballah terror teams fan out in six countries prompting maximum Israeli alert
More...
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
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