Article

2008-07-11 Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Officials: Israeli jets flying over Iraqi territory in preparation for strike on Iran

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Posted by tu3031 2008-07-11 09:49|| || Front Page|| [7 views ] Top

#1 Wouldn't be surprised, but I doubt the Israelis would play their hand in advance that they were there. It ain't the IAF's style.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-07-11 10:20|| 2008-07-11 10:20|| Front Page Top

#2 It may also be misdirection. You think Kuwait and the Gulf States want a nuke capable Iran threatening them. They just need deniability. They'll put on a grand show of displeasure, it's the culture. However, I wouldn't doubt for a moment that for their security and safety, they'd accommodate.

Posted by Procopius2k 2008-07-11 10:30|| 2008-07-11 10:30|| Front Page Top

#3 Its so they don't expect the attack through the jungle.
/Hot Shots deux

Posted by swksvolFF 2008-07-11 10:31|| 2008-07-11 10:31|| Front Page Top

#4 To start with, this would give Israel a huge advantage, as well as allow Israel proper to have total missile defense control, i.e., anything flying towards them is enemy, so shoot first. No need for IFF.

Second, it allows support personal to move further forward to tend to aircraft, and quick refueling. In exchange, no surprises for the US, so we can be prepared too.

However, the big question is aircraft type. Israel would have to use its high performance aircraft to take out high altitude AAA, but cargo aircraft to deliver bunker busters.

And while the US has delivered a LOT of bunker busters to Israel, they have to be moved to Iraq as well, unless they are pre-positioned.

The BIG question is will Israel use subsurface tactical nukes against such targets?

Also, will the US disperse personnel from its major bases prior to attack? And will the Lincoln aircraft carrier group also pitch in?

This might turn into one hell of a show.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-07-11 10:35|| 2008-07-11 10:35|| Front Page Top

#5 I think what we have here is likely misdirection. If things go well, the Israelis will 'fess up. If not, then it will remain unacknowledged. It would be nice to think that Kuwait and Gulf States would have enough of a sense of self-preservation that they would lend their support. We will see.

Posted by Richard of Oregon 2008-07-11 12:21|| 2008-07-11 12:21|| Front Page Top

#6 Wanna scare the Arab world? Sell Israel the Kitty Hawk. With air wing including tankers.

Wanna guarantee an Israel strike quickly? Let Russia sell those S-300's to Iran. Israel will have to strike before those are delivered and become operational.

As for this article it mostly crap. Hot-Basing and landings in Iraq now? Nope. Way too visible.

I seriously doubt this is going on.

But I do NOT doubt that the Israelis do plan on a short divert on the way back if necessary to bases in Iraq - the airfields in western Iraq would serve purposes on flightpaths via Jordan, isolated and few prying eyes for damaged aircraft.

Were I in Israel, I'd gather up over the eastern med, refuel there, then fly in NOE along the border between Turkey and Syria, then across N Iraq (kurdistan) border areas with Turkey into Iraq. Terrain there is mountainous and careful rout planning would allow penetration without much chance of detection. Kurdistan has some remote strips that can be used while the Kurds turn a blind eye to them, as well, as Israeli "commandos" use them for a quick staging field. Also have "friendly" merchant ships in the gulf ready to pick up aviators who make it out to "ditch points".

Egress is a different matter, and pretty complicated. If their F15 and 16 have the legs and they do some tanking, they could also approach or egress from the south via a couple of ocean RPs. Complex.

Israel can do this without overflying Iraq, but it will be massively complex.

Wildcard: establish temporary clandestine base in Azerbaijan or Georgia - allows a direct strike over the caspian into Natanz.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-07-11 12:37|| 2008-07-11 12:37|| Front Page Top

#7 It's really hard for me to believe that we will, or will allow an attack on Iran unless Iran does something really foolish like launching and disabling a US warship.

We are right at the point in Iraq where we are transitioning from Coalition to Iraqi forces, with a light at the end of the tunnel. A war with Iran would reset the clock and make the gains we have made in Iraq problematic.

Posted by anymouse">anymouse 2008-07-11 12:38|| 2008-07-11 12:38|| Front Page Top

#8 If I were Israel, the first assumption I would make is that anything I might to in Iraq would be immediately reported to the Iranians. If an Iraqi lays eyeballs on it, the Iranians will probably know about it.

Posted by crosspatch 2008-07-11 12:42|| 2008-07-11 12:42|| Front Page Top

#9 I think it would be a fun and interesting exercise if we could start something here on Ranturg (on a separate page) where we devise our own plans and see how accurate our ideas were when it happens. It could be individually or collectively.

Posted by Yousemite Sam 2008-07-11 13:44|| 2008-07-11 13:44|| Front Page Top

#10 The plot thickens...

(IsraelNN.com) Formal representatives of an Arab country hinted in meetings with Israelis that they would not object to an Israeli military strike on Iran. This information, attributed to diplomatic sources in Jerusalem said this week, was reported in Haaretz Friday.

The Arab country's representatives said that the reason for their position was their concern over Iran's widening influence in the region, especially among Shiite communities within the Arab countries.

Posted by tu3031 2008-07-11 15:23|| 2008-07-11 15:23|| Front Page Top

#11 More...

The representatives told the Israeli officials that other Arab countries are also troubled by Iran's policy. Some Arab states are afraid that Iran's growing power will create a rift between Sunnis and Shi'ites. That concern is especially rife in Arab countries with a Shi'ite minority.

Political sources in Israel told Haaretz that Iran's increasingly belligerent statements have worried the Gulf states, which want American protection against Tehran. "If this is how Iran threatens when it doesn't have nuclear weapons, what will it do when its nuclear program ripens?" one Israeli source said.

Posted by tu3031 2008-07-11 15:26|| 2008-07-11 15:26|| Front Page Top

#12 Joint strike capability? Other than that, it wouldn't make sense. Now if we were going to supply the air tankers and AWAKs that would make sense. But right now we are reportedly talking it out with Iran on the issue of Iraq. It just doesn't add up. Everyone knows that Iran can't hold out under the current conditions, why would we spoil the soup during the end game when we don't have to?

Posted by bigjim-ky 2008-07-11 15:26|| 2008-07-11 15:26|| Front Page Top

#13 Iraq denied on Friday reports claiming the Israeli Air Force has been practicing for a possible attack against Iran in its airspace.
"As the Ministry of Defense, we haven't observed any IAF warplanes practicing in Iraqi airspace," said Major-General Mohammad al-Askari, spokesman for the Iraqi Defense Ministry.

On Friday, sources in the Iraqi Defense Ministry told a local news network that Israel Air Force (IAF) war planes are practicing in Iraqi airspace and land on US airbases in the country as a preparation for a potential strike on Iran.

The IDF has also denied the reports, calling them "baseless."

Posted by tu3031 2008-07-11 16:11|| 2008-07-11 16:11|| Front Page Top

#14 Two can play at Photoshop journalism. How about some F-16Is in Saudi colors at Prince Bandar AFB?

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2008-07-11 16:36|| 2008-07-11 16:36|| Front Page Top

#15 Some fundamentals of what would be needed for the operation, include:

A significant ground presence in country for target and damage analysis.

USN and Israeli submarine coordination to disappear the Iranian navy ASAP. This means all 3 Kilo class attack submarines, which are very quiet diesel, and two classes of mini submarines, unknown number.

3 Iranian destroyers at Bushehr + 4 frigates and 3 corvettes. 1 frigate is in the Caspian Sea. This still means that a bunch of US Mark 46 and 54 torpedoes are going to get field tested.

The Israelis will have all 3 of their German built Dolphin class boats doing hurt, which are very bad ass submarines.

If the US is involved, our cruise missile submarines are going to get fully operational tested.

Iranian army and IRGC will get to experience the awe and mystery of heavy bomber JDAM and SDB attacks, a single plane at some distance wiping out an entire brigade of armor in seconds.

Cargo aircraft carrying massive penetration bombs will start destroying nuclear facilities as soon as the AAA is neutralized.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-07-11 17:38|| 2008-07-11 17:38|| Front Page Top

#16 You know what I would build if I were get the Legos out - it would be a submarine capable of launching stealth drones in loiter equipped with HARM missiles and also capable of suiciding an additional target when payload is expended.

I am sure the current weaponry and excellent military planners are more than on top of this.

Posted by swksvolFF 2008-07-11 17:53|| 2008-07-11 17:53|| Front Page Top

#17 3 Iranian destroyers at Bushehr + 4 frigates and 3 corvettes. 1 frigate is in the Caspian Sea. This still means that a bunch of US Mark 46 and 54 torpedoes are going to get field tested.

The Iranian Navy has no vessel over 500 tons in the Caspian. That rules out frigates and corvettes.

Posted by badanov 2008-07-11 20:29|| http://www.freefirezone.org]">[http://www.freefirezone.org] 2008-07-11 20:29|| Front Page Top

#18 The "frigate" in the Caspian is a converted luxury yacht. The Hamzeh was originally a government yacht but has now been equipped with Chinese C-802 missiles. It is deployed at Anzali on the Caspian Sea.

None of their surface ships are new, with most being over 30 years old. However, they have been trying to equip them with better offensive weapons.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-07-11 20:54|| 2008-07-11 20:54|| Front Page Top

#19 PAYVAND > SEYMOUR HERSCH: US TRANING JONDOLLAH + MEK FOR [Iran] BOMBING PREPARATION [Commando-Sapper pre-strike?]; + RUSSIA: IRAN MISSLE TESTS SHOW WHY US MISSLE DEFENSE SHIELD IS NOT NEEDED.

ALso, WAFF.com > WAR WITH IRAN MAY OCCUR THIS AUTUMN; + ADHKRONOS - AHMADINEJAD CLAIMS US GENERALS ARE ON HIS SIDE; + ITS GETTING HOTTER: RUSSIA TELLS USA - F***K OFF OR I'LL ATTACK >>> IRAN AND RUSSIA LAUNCH THREATS AGZ THE USA???

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-07-11 21:01|| 2008-07-11 21:01|| Front Page Top

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