According to the foreign media reports, the Israeli attack in Syria this week targeted advanced SA-17 anti-aircraft missiles, described as extremely accurate.

The daily Maariv explains the missiles are quite advanced, fired from armored vehicles, and in Hizbullah hands they would make a significant difference in the relative freedom of movement enjoyed by the Israel Air Force in the skies over Lebanon today. The report adds the medium range missiles are also capable of challenging missiles fired from naval vessels and smart bombs, and in Hizbullah hands, the SA-17 system would complicate the IDF’s operational tactics.

It is theorized that the convoy targeted by the IDF contained advanced Scud missiles, missiles with a 700km (420 mile) range, Maariv adds. These rockets could reach any area in Israel while carrying a large powerful warhead, including chemical weaponry.

FROM WIKIPEDIA:

The Buk missile system (Russian: “Бук”; English: beech, pron.: /bʊk/ book) is a family of self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air missile systems developed by the former Soviet Union and Russian Federation and designed to engage cruise missiles, smart bombs, fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Buk missile system is the successor to the NIIP/Vympel 2K12 Kub (NATO reporting name SA-6 “Gainful”).

The first version of Buk adopted into service carried the GRAU designation 9K37 and was identified in the west with the NATO reporting name “Gadfly” as well as the US Department of Defense designation SA-11. Since its initial introduction into service the Buk missile system has been continually upgraded and refined with the latest incarnation carrying the designation 9K317 “Buk-M2”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)