TEHRAN — A senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander says Iran deployed a domestic-built reconnaissance drone that can stay aloft for 24 hours. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who heads the Corps‘ aerospace division, said the drone is named Shahed-129, or Witness-129, and has a range of 1,250 miles.
That covers much of the Middle East, including Israel, and nearly doubles the range of previous Iranian drones.
Gen. Hajizadeh spoke during an interview Tuesday on Iran’s state TV. He claimed that Iranian scientists designed and developed the drone.
Iran has said it also seeks to develop a drone with attack capabilities.
Iran says it is fighting an intelligence battle with the U.S. and Israel, which accuse Tehran of seeking to build nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charges.
GAZA STRIP
Hamas officials say leader plans to step down
GAZA CITY — Khaled Meshaal, head of the Hamas movement, has reaffirmed his decision to relinquish leadership of the group, Hamas officials said Tuesday.
In January, the movement announced its longtime leader in exile was ready to step down from his post, but said members were hoping he would reconsider.
Hamas officials in Gaza and outside the Palestinian territories said Tuesday that Mr. Meshaal is determined to give up the leadership. His departure comes after growing friction between the leadership in exile, formally based in Damascus but dispersed since the Syrian uprising began, and the leadership in the Gaza Strip.
Since taking control of the coastal strip, the Hamas movement in Gaza has boosted its profile, growing financially independent but also openly disagreeing with decisions taken by the leadership in exile.
Zarqawi nephew nabbed trying to enter Syria
AMMAN — A top Islamist lawyer said Tuesday that the nephew of slain al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was among six jihadists arrested in Jordan last week as they tried to cross into Syria.
“Jordanian border guards on Saturday arrested six mujahedeen, including Abu Asyad, the nephew of Zarqawi, as they attempted to go to Syria for jihad,” Musa Abdullat, a leading lawyer for Islamist groups, told Agence France-Presse. “They are expected to be charged and jailed for between five and 15 years.”
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By Douglas Holtz-Eakin
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