Iran Test-Fires Missiles Capable of Reaching Israel and American Bases

JERUSALEM — Iran flexed its military muscle yesterday by test-firing missiles capable of hitting Israel and local American bases in maneuvers that the hard-line regime codenamed "Great Prophet."

In what was taken as a clear warning to America, the commander-in-chief of the elite Revolutionary Guards said the tests were intended to display his country's military strength.

"We want to show our deterrent and defensive power to transregional enemies, and we hope they will understand the message of the maneuvers," the head of the Revolutionary Guards, General Yahya Rahim Safavi, said.

Iranian state television reported the missiles, including the long-range Shahab-3, were fired from mobile launching pads in the country's central desert region at the opening of 10 days of military operations.

The exercise came just 48 hours after a U.S. Navy-led flotilla in the Gulf exercised close to Iranian territorial waters, practicing drills for intercepting ships carrying missiles components and weapons of mass destruction.

Shahab-3 missiles are believed to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and are believed to have a range of more than 1,200 miles, meaning Israel and American military bases in the Middle East are within range.

Among the other weapons tested was the Shahab-2, which has a cluster warhead that can send 1,400 bomblets at the same time, solid-fuel Zalzal missiles, and guided missiles such as Scud-B, Zolfaghar-73, and Z-3, Iranian television said. Footage showed six missiles being fired from mobile launchers and leaving long vapor trails above the desert near the holy city of Qom. As they rose, General Safavi and other guardsman shouted: "God is the Greatest."

General Safavi said the 10 days of military exercises would comprise drills by ground, air, and naval forces, including submarines, mainly in the Gulf and Sea of Oman.

Meanwhile, the Iranian-aligned Hezbollah group in Lebanon yesterday rejected White House claims that it and Syria were seeking to topple Beirut's pro-Western government of Prime Minister Siniora as "a blatant interference ... concerning the Lebanese people's choices over their government and policies."