Israel - Iran attack coming

Israel's warning to Iran
Jewish state adds stick to carrot policy

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G2 Headlines
Author: Joseph Farah

© 2005 G2 Bulletin
Publishing date: 12.01.2006 18:29

The sudden illness of Ariel Sharon, Israel’s prime minister and top defense strategist, cast a dark shadow on many critical matters on the Israeli political agenda. The acute Iran dilemma, and Tehran’s statements indicating the Islamic Republic is planning to go ahead with its military-grade nuclear development, is by far the most serious. As more rhetoric from Iran is flooding world media, it is evident the European Union group of Britain, Germany and France, have failed in its diplomatic efforts to reason with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and have decided to refer the problem to the U.N. Security Council.

This move is supported by the U.S. administration, but not by Russia and China who both might veto an anti-Iran resolution. The consultations between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Russia’s Vladimir Putin are obviously also on hold. The political and diplomatic activity over Iran’s nuclear plans could easily be bogged down in U.N. bureaucratic red tape. The U.N.’s endemic inefficiency, whether unintentional or deliberate, does not mean, however, the Israeli military will also put on hold its plans to solve the issue should all other efforts fail.

Last week in Tel Aviv analysts mentioned a statement made by the outgoing military Chief of Intelligence General Aharon Zeevi-Farkash, who said March 1 could be the time limit for diplomatic means to deter Iran’s plans. What Zeevi actually conveyed was an implied warning to Iran that playing around with fire after March 2006 might result in severe consequences. Sources in Tel Aviv and in several European capitals, say Zeevi’s remarks were based on a military planned timetable toward a possible D-Day to take the Iranian military nuclear plant out of the strategic threat.

Gen. Dan Halutz General Dan Halutz, Israel’s chief of staff and former air force commander, intentionally selected to be the first chief of staff to come from the air force, last week said there are several military means to deal with the problem. Although his statement was somewhat vague, especially against the background drama surrounding Sharon’s illness, those who know Halutz, and more specifically those who are acquainted with the Israeli air force, know that he is a of verbal restraint.

He would not have made this statement without being sure the Israeli military machine would be as effective against the Iranian project as it was in 1981 against the Iraqi Ossiraq nuclear site. In addition to the general’s statements, analysts, aware of the psychological warfare part of Israel’s military statements, pointed to the surprising disclosure of an exclusive Israeli air force unit called “the anti-aircraft imaging unit.” The Israel Air Force magazine re-published a story in December 2005 under the title: “Know Thy Enemy.” It deals specifically with the anti-aircraft missile threat, which could be the major obstacle in taking out the Iranian system.

The special unit’s existence was until recently classified as top secret. But not any more. Since 1996, the air force and the Rafael Weapons Development Authority have been jointly operating a unit of Soviet anti-aircraft systems similar to those in service in the Middle East.” The unit, based on thorough knowledge of Russian-made systems, is instrumental in the training of Israeli air force fighter pilots on how to survive anti-aircraft and radar threats, sometimes thousands of kilometers away from base.

The unit also operates weapon systems captured from Arab armies, undisclosed purchased equipment and secret computer developments of systems identical to anti-aircraft systems presently used by Iran, and even systems directly ordered by Iran from the Russians to protect their nuclear assets. The unit’s commanding officer described it as “the best playground where our pilots learn to deal with the real stuff.”

Among others the unit operates Russian-made SA-6, SA-8, SA-2 and SA-3, full missile systems, radar-guided ZSU-23 anti-aircraft guns and simulators, including some purchased from General Dynamics who built the a simulator for the U.S. Air Force which is trying to tackle the same problem. The officer heading the imaging unit said significant emphasis is given to Russian, Chinese and North Korean-manufactured radar systems. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the anti-aircraft imaging unit became more prominent when Eastern Bloc systems were more accessible.

“We constantly update all new threats our pilots may have to deal with and when we learn of a new threat we find ways to bring the (foreign) know-how to us.” An interesting statement dealt with the fact former Soviet or Russian anti-aircraft officers who had immigrated to Israel. Some were attached to the unit such as the former commander of a Soviet an anti-aircraft missile battery, who was also an engineer in a development team of sophisticated Russian radar.

The air force also chose to reveal details of its cooperation with the Turkish air force including the deployment of Israeli fighter jets in Turkey and Turkish squadrons in Israel as part of a joint training program. Even Greece, which for years rejected any cooperation with Israel, recently announced its air force is also fully cooperating with the Israeli air force. This cooperation with regional air forces, especially with Turkey, which borders Iran in the east, is highly significant when mentioned in uncensored air force publications.

The Israeli air force’s capability in the past to destroy the Iraqi nuclear reactor, to take out the entire Syrian anti-aircraft system in Lebanon and to successfully attack PLO headquarters in far away Tunisia, should serve as a clear message to Iran there is a vast difference between rhetoric and reality and that if push comes to shove Iran will pay dearly for her controversial nuclear ambitions.

G2B contributor Yoram East