REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS OFFICER: IRAN MISSILES DESIGNED TO REACH ISRAEL:

Iran's medium-range ballistic missiles are designed to be able to hit Israel, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' missile battery was quoted as saying as the Guards test-fired two missiles. "The reason we designed our missiles with a range of 2000 km (1,200 miles) is to be able to hit our enemy the Zionist regime from a safe distance," said Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Iran reportedly test-fired two ballistic missiles Wed. 9 March 2016 with the phrase "Israel must be wiped out” written on them, a show of force by the Islamic Republic as USA Vice President Joe Biden visited Israel. Such phrases have been emblazoned on missiles fired before by Iran, but this test comes as the country recently signed a nuclear deal with world powers, including America. Hard-liners in Iran’s military have fired rockets and missiles despite USA objections since the deal, as well as shown underground missile bases on state television. (J.Post/Time)