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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran draws up plans to bomb Israel |
| 2007-09-19 |
| TEHRAN, Iran - The deputy commander of Iran's air force said Wednesday that plans have been drawn up to bomb Israel if the Jewish state attacks Iran, according to the semiofficial Fars news agency. The announcement came amid rising tensions in the region, with the United States calling for a new round of U.N. sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear program and Israeli planes having recently overflown, and perhaps even attacked, Iranian ally Syria. On Sunday, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the international community should prepare for the possibility of war in the event that Iran obtains atomic weapons, although he later appeared to soften that statement."We have drawn up a plan to strike back at Israel with our bombers if this regime (Israel) makes a silly mistake," Gen. Mohammad Alavi was quoted as telling Fars in an interview. Fars confirmed the quotes when contacted by The Associated Press, but would not provide a tape of the interview. The Iranian air force had no immediate comment. Here's one. Mayday! Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammed Najjar told the official IRNA news agency Wednesday that "we keep various options open to respond to threats. ... We will make use of them if required." Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards released a statement that the nation was ready for a military confrontation. "Iran, having passed through crises ... has prepared its people for a possible confrontation against any aggression," IRNA quoted the statement as saying. Iran has said in the past that Israel would be Iran's first retaliatory target if attacked by the United States, but Alavi's comments were the first word of specific contingency plans for striking back on Israel. Many in the region fear Israel could launch airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities to prevent it from building a nuclear weapon. Alavi also warned that Israel was within Iran's medium-range missiles and its fighter bombers, while maintaining that Israel was not strong enough to launch an aerial attack against Iran. Hmmmmm...guess he don't read the papers... "The whole territory of this regime is within the range of our missiles. Moreover, we can attack their territory with our fighter bombers as a response to any attack," the general said. Gonna be down at the field to wave goodbye, general? An upgraded version of Iran's Shahab-3 missile has a range of 1,250 miles, capable of reaching Israel and carrying a nuclear warhead. Alavi said Iran's radar bases were monitoring activities at the country's borders around the clock and boasted that it had the capability to confront U.S. cruise missiles. "One of the issues the enemies make publicity about is their cruise missiles. Now, we possess the necessary systems to confront them," Alavi was quoted as saying. But I can't tell yas what it is. It's...a secret. Iran's ambassador to Kuwait said in an interview with the Kuwaiti Al-Rai newspaper that U.S. bases in the Gulf would be targeted if the country was attacked. "Iran won't immediately strike U.S. bases in the region if it comes under a military strike. It will hit the base from which the strike against it came," Ali Jannati told the newspaper. "But I don't think the Gulf nations would allow that a strike be launched from their territory." Kuwait has a major U.S. base, which helps supply troops in Iraq. The U.S. 5th Fleet, which patrols the Gulf, is based in Bahrain, and the U.S. forces' Central Command is based in Qatar. We got these things called aircraft carriers, Mookie. And I don't think Nebraska or Louisiana are Islamic republics yet. A top Revolutionary Guards commander said this week that Americans could be found all around Iran and that they were legitimate Iranian targets if the U.S. takes military action. "Today, the United States is within Iran's sight and all around our country, but it doesn't mean we have been encircled. They are encircled themselves and are within our range," Gen. Mohammed Hasan Kousehchi told IRNA, referring to U.S. units in Iraq and Afghanistan. Man, they do like to listen to themselves make noise, don't they? |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #17 I don't really think anything with wings is going to last very long broaching any of those borders. Sadly, I think you might be a tad too optimistic, RWV. Muslim hatred for Israel knows no bounds. Even if it does, it's far more wise to act upon the previous premise. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-09-19 23:04 |
| #16 It appears that the phrase "bombers" is being used euphemistically. A quick look at the map says there is no way to get from Iran to Israel by air except through Saudi, Iraqi, or Turkish airspace. I don't really think anything with wings is going to last very long broaching any of those borders. |
| Posted by: RWV 2007-09-19 21:35 |
| #15 See also on DEBKA. In possibly related news, DRUDGE > IRAN > WILL GIVE ITS "FINAL RESPONSE" on October 12th [QODS Day]. * RIAN > IRAN: NUCLEAR WEAPONS "JUST IN CASE" [US/Israeli attack???]; + PRAVDA [paraphrased]> IRAN AND SYRIA DEVELOP CHEMICAL WARHEADS WMDS TO DESTROY THE USA. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-09-19 21:02 |
| #14 the play plan: |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-09-19 20:53 |
| #13 I like the way you think, Excalibur! Israel should have razed that ammo dump back in 67. |
| Posted by: Titus Hayes 2007-09-19 20:29 |
| #12 I could live with an Iranian missle accidently hitting Riyadh.... :-D |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2007-09-19 20:08 |
| #11 This article basically means ASSAD = SYRIA is on his own for time being. Israeli Op-Ed > had reminded Israelis that IRAN in the past has resorted to utilizing Terror groups to retaliate agz Israeli mil or covert ops actions agz Iranian interests.*ION, IRGC Cdr > Iran has up to 20.0Milyuhn BASIJ volunteers inside Iran ready and willing to engage US-Allied forces in defensive "People's War", i.e. asymmetric warfare. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-09-19 19:22 |
| #10 Iran is boring |
| Posted by: Tarzan Uleamble6134 2007-09-19 19:01 |
| #9 It would be a shame if one of those - or something with similar sound effects - were to land on the al aqsa mosque. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2007-09-19 18:17 |
| #8 It really looks to me like Iran shoots from Syria or Lebanon. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-09-19 17:58 |
| #7 Theoretical 1500 km range, at least. Based on that, 3dc's map shows the missiles could definitely reach Iraq and Saudi Arabia, which take up a much larger section of the arc as well as being bigger and closer... in case the aim is off a hair in addition to the fuel or something being a bit mismeasured, I mean. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-09-19 17:12 |
| #6 "You have to ask yourself: Do I feel lucky today? Well do ya?" |
| Posted by: SR-71 2007-09-19 15:59 |
| #5 Iran draws up plans to There, all fixed. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-09-19 15:24 |
#4 1500 km range. Where can Iran shoot from... |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-09-19 14:56 |
| #3 I'm sure the general has a nice, deep, well stocked bunker for himself and his family. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2007-09-19 14:36 |
#2  |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-09-19 14:35 |
| #1 A graphic of the Black Knight would be appropriate. |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2007-09-19 14:29 |