July 10, 2002. Copyright 2002. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

Hamas deploys new anti-tank rocket

LONDON, July 10, Graphic News: The Palestinian militant group Hamas has added a new weapon, a home-built anti-tank rocket dubbed al-Bana, to its deadly arsenal.

Israel Defence Forces say the rocket first appeared in the last few weeks when it was used in two attacks. An IDF officer was wounded during an attack in the Gaza Strip and an al-Bana was fired at an Israeli tank, but fell short of its target. Last weekend IDF forces found two armed al-Bana launchers near the settlement of Netzarim in the Gaza Strip.

Based on the Soviet-era RPG-7, the weapon is fired from a metre-long plastic pipe. The warhead is composed of TNT and the propellant is based on a mixture of sugar and fertilizer.

Last February Hamas began using the Qassam-2 -- a home-built rocket with a range of eight kilometres, capable of reaching major Israeli towns from the West Bank or Gaza.
/ENDS

Sources: JaneÕs Defence Weekly, Israeli Defence Forces