IRAN TESTS ROCKET AGAIN

Iran tests rocket, Quakes in Alaska, California

May. 23, 2006 22:41 Updated May. 24, 2006 1:41Iran test-fires long-range missile

Iran conducted a test launch Tuesday night of the Shihab-3 intermediate-range ballistic missile, which is capable of reaching Israel and US targets in the region, Israel Radio reported. The test came hours before Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with US President George W Bush in Washington to discuss the Iranian threat.

Military officials said it was not clear if this most recent test indicated an advance in the capabilities of the Shihab 3. They said the test was likely timed to coincide with the Washington summit and with comments made by Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah during celebrations in Beirut marking the 6th anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

THE IRANIAN THREAT JPost.com- What deters the enemy from launching an aggression is the resistance's continuous readiness to respond, Nasrallah told scores of supporters. Northern Israel today is within the range of the resistance's rockets. The ports, bases, factories and everything is within that range.

The Shihab test was only partly successful, according to news reports. The nature of the difficulties was not clear. The Iranians have been working to extend the Shihab 3's current maximum range of 1,300 kilometers. A year ago, they successfully tested a solid fuel motor for the missile.

In December, Israel's defense against an Iranian ballistic missile strike, the Arrow 2 missile system, succeeded in intercepting an incoming rocket simulating an Iranian Shihab 3 at an altitude higher than in the previous 13 exercises. Maj. Elyakim, commander of the Arrow missile battery at Palmahim, told The Jerusalem Post last month that the missile crews were always on high alert, but that they were recently instructed to "raise their level of awareness" because of developments on the Iranian front. The Arrow missile, he said, could intercept and destroy any Iranian missile fired at Israel, including ones carrying non-conventional warheads.

Experts believe that if Iran is attacked by Israel or the US, Teheran would respond by firing long-range ballistic missiles at Israel.

Two Tuesday morning earthquakes reported, Associated Press

The Alaska Earthquake Information Center says two temblors were recorded Tuesday morning, and one was felt in Willow. That one was reported just before eight, and has a preliminary magnitude of 3.9. It was centered about 25 miles southwest of Talkeetna. Even
though it was felt in Willow, there haven't been any reports of damage.

The other earthquake came about 8:40 Tuesday morning in the Rat Islands. This quake had a preliminary magnitude of 4.4, and was centered about 25 miles east of Amchitka (or 165 miles west of Adak). There have been no reports of damage or of this quake being felt.

Magnitude 3.9 quake shakes Baja Calif. Wed May 24, 2:04 AM ET CALEXICO,

Calif. - A small earthquake in northern Baja California shook part of the U.S.-Mexico border region late Tuesday. The magnitude-3.9 tremor occurred at 9:19 p.m. local time and was centered 26 miles southeast of Calexico, or 10 miles northwest of Guadalupe Victoria, Mexico, according to the California Integrated Seismic Network.There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, a sheriff's office dispatcher in Imperial County, which sits along the U.S.-Mexico border.