Iran has officially confirmed that it's missile factory had been transferred to the Syrian city of Aleppo for supporting Hezbollah group that was in war against Israel.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah (Shia militant group) had used Iranian-made missiles manufactured in Aleppo during its July 2006 war with Israel, Beirut- Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri said. It is the first time a high-ranking Iranian officer has announced the presence of Iranian-made weapons produced on a foreign soil, which is Syria.
However, the Iranian officer Bagheri did not specify the timetable for producing the missile nor their range type. He only spoke about a manufacturing zone near the industrial city of Aleppo, where fierce battles took place lately between opposition fighters and Syrian regime forces and their allies.
Tehran lost a large number of fighters during the battles, Asharq Al-awsat reported Friday.
Last June, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah admitted that his forces received missiles and money from Iran.
The missiles produced in Aleppo were used against the Tel Aviv regime during the 33-day Israeli war against Lebanon in the summer of 2006. During these days, Hezbollah launched over 4,000 rockets at Israel, an average of over 100 a day.
Free Syrian Army Commander Col. Ahmed Rahal said, “Iranian military production on Syrian soil started in 2002 as part of a deal inked between Bashar Assad and the Iranian leadership,”. “The Iranian information is very accurate and true,” he added.
He asserted that Iranian military production in Syria is part of a comprehensive military and economic plan between the countries.