France to sell HOT missile to Lebanon

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http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/France_to_sell_HOT_missile_to_Lebanon_999.html

Israel has voiced concern over designs by France to sell anti-tank missiles to Lebanon, warning that the weapons could end up in the hands of radical extremists.

Officials in Tel Aviv said the government had lodged a complaint with Paris swiftly after its announcement last week that it was preparing to sell 100 HOT missiles to the Lebanese armed forces. Other governments were also advised, including that of the United States.

"We have raised with foreign governments our concerns of Hezbollah's growing domination of the Lebanese government apparatus and concern that weapons transfer to the Lebanese forces will, in fact, become part of the Hezbollah arsenal," said an unnamed Israeli official quoted by the Defense News Web site.

The concern follows similar moves by Iran to bolster Lebanon's forces with urban warfare materials, which Israel fears could fall in the hands of Hezbollah and be used against its forces.

Military pundits argue that Hezbollah has already seen its arsenal increase in recent years with Russian-made anti-tank missiles, mostly provided by Syria.

Most recently, also, the United States lifted a $100 million freeze on U.S. military aid to Lebanon in a move intended to counter Iran's growing influence over the country. The freeze, earlier this year, was prompted was the border killing of an Israeli battalion commander by a Lebanese soldier.

A U.N. resolution has called for the disbanding and disarmament of all militias in Lebanon since 2004. But Iran has long aided Lebanon's Shiite group Hezbollah, which is spearheading opposition against the Lebanese government on charges of leaning to the West.

Israeli officials said they hope they will halt France's designs.

"We have good relations with the French and hope that in back channels this can be resolved," one official said on Saturday.

In Paris, though, officials say the 100 HOT missiles were destined for Lebanon's Gazelle military helicopters and would set to be delivered by the end of February.

There were "no conditions attached" to the deal, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Related details had been relayed by the office of Prime Minister Francois Fillon to his Lebanese counterpart Saad Hariri, the newspaper reported.

The French-made HOT anti-tank missile, with a range of 6 miles, is considered one of the most advanced of its kind. It has the ability to penetrate around 1,000 mm of armor and it can be mounted on combat helicopters or vehicles.

Intelligence officials estimate that Hezbollah has amassed more than 40,000 short and medium-range rockets capable of reaching well within Israel.
 

Rahul Singh

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France in actual term is arming Hezbollah. Iran and Lebanon are two source of advance weaponry to this terrorist organisation. During last Israel-Lebanon Hezbollah has already displayed how much reach they have. Incidents of Hezbollah using Konkurs should have served as an eye opener to not sell any weapons of this kind to Lebanon........
 
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The numbers they are selling are not huge 100 missiles it is not game changing but it is a nuisance for Israel.
 

Tshering22

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^^ France doesn't care what or where their weapons are used. As long as they can sell it and as long as it is not against them, all is good in business. That's the French policy; total independence in terms of whom to sell and for what to see. Heck you got the cash, you could buy off a Rafale and fly it in your private island somewhere in pacific. Think about its strategy; it sells to Israel and Arabs, us and Pakistanis, and many such pairings all of which are independent of each other. Its all business for them.
 

Oracle

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France is selling them to Lebanon and not to Hezbollah guys. Lebanon govt. itself is critical of Hezbollah.
 

Tshering22

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The numbers they are selling are not huge 100 missiles it is not game changing but it is a nuisance for Israel.
100 missiles means even if we take an accuracy of .47 in general considering the hitting capability and training of the terrorists, that means 47 Merkavas out for Israeli Army. And you know how limited Israeli resources are. 47 Tanks even for Indian standards is a considerable loss then imagine what it is for them. If French go ahead with this deal, I won't be surprised if Israel supplies weapons to those against France. They have a policy of exacting grim retribution unlike our weakling government.

And it won't be the first time France and Israel have run afoul of each other. De Gaulle almost caused Israel's collapse in 67 when he refused arms supply during the peak of Israel's war with 4 countries. The only thing that kept Israel going and strong was their super smartness and their enemies' absolutely stupidity.
 

Tshering22

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France is selling them to Lebanon and not to Hezbollah guys. Lebanon govt. itself is critical of Hezbollah.
Lebanon has a semi-divided government dude. Hezbollah is more influential and powerful than the ruling government there with an overwhelming support base. Naturally HZBs would have had some moles in Lebanese Army that can leak some of these weapons to them and then they can send it to Iran for copying and making cheaper copies of it for Hezbollah and other agencies. It isn't that easy. Isolated from the global arms market, Iran has also emerged pretty good at copying stuff available in black market and has become a mini-China in that term.
 

Rahul Singh

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France is selling them to Lebanon and not to Hezbollah guys. Lebanon govt. itself is critical of Hezbollah.
Yet they arm Hezbollah with ATGMs. Lebanon's army is source of advance weaponry to Hezbollah. You can blame Iran alone for Katyusha rockets but Lebanon had big part playing in that.


The numbers they are selling are not huge 100 missiles it is not game changing but it is a nuisance for Israel.
Yes LF 100 is not big number but even if 10 is passed on to Hezbollah it will be big threat to IDF armored column. Anyway you can't rule out follow-on orders.
 
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Where will there be any checks or balances to make sure the missiles do not fall into the hands of hezbollah?? There is not ;France knows this and they are still pushing the sale.
 

Armand2REP

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The HOT missiles being sold are only capable of being used on helos. They would need pedestal launch stations if they were going to be used by infantry.
 

Ray

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Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, the five provinces that comprise modern Lebanon were mandated to France. The French expanded the borders of Mount Lebanon, which was mostly populated by Maronite Catholics and Druze, to include more Muslims. Lebanon gained independence in 1943.

Old connections!
 

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