Israel test-fires long-range missile for propulsion system test

Palestinians inspect a destroyed car after it was targeted by an Israeli air strike in the northern Gaza Strip Jan. 17, 2008. An Israeli aircraft fired an air-to-ground missle at a car driving in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing a Palestinian couple and wounding another three.(Xinhua Photo)

Israel's security establishment on Thursday successfully fired a long-range ballistic missile, testing a rocket propulsion system as part of its missile development program, local media reported.

According to a Jerusalem Post report, the missile was test fired Thursday morning from the Palmahim Air Force Base in the center of the country.

"A successful missile launch was carried out within the framework of examining rocket propulsion," the Defense Ministry later said in a brief statement to the media.

However, it refused to provide details concerning the type of missile and the purpose it served.

The Palmahim base is the launch pad for a wide-range of Israel's missiles, including the Arrow Missile Defense System and the Shavit satellite launcher, which is an offshoot of the long-range Jericho surface-to-surface missile.

In light of the satisfactory results, the military will review the new system's incorporation in its various missiles, according to the Jerusalem Post report.

Israel Radio said that Israeli army has been carrying out tests to improve anti-missile systems aimed at intercepting both short and long-range rockets, including Katyusha rockets used by Hezbollah in Lebanon and missiles in Iran's arsenal.

The test fire came three days after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel would consider "all options" to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and says it is enriching uranium only for civilian use in generating electricity.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday brushed aside an Israeli test-firing a ballistic missile, saying that he was not worried about the development as he believes that the Jewish state would never dare attack his country.

Israel "lacks the courage to launch any attack against Iran, " said Ahmadinejad in an interview with the pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV, in which he was asked about the long-range ballistic missile Israel claimed it successfully test-fired earlier in the day.

"The Zionist entity is aware that any attempt or strike will be confronted by a very strong response," added the Iranian president.