Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot (C) seen during the massive drill. (IDF Spokesperson)
The IDF is preparing for the day after the signing of an agreement with Iran, examining all options available to prevent it from obtaining nuclear capability.
The IDF is preparing for the day after the signing of a nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers and has tasked a special team with examining military options against Iran.
Israel’s Walla news quoted a foreign source on Tuesday saying that IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot appointed Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Yair Golan to lead a special team tasked with examining the IDF’s military alternatives against Iran.
Israel believes that when Iran is faced with a powerful Israeli military option, they will think long and hard before breaching the agreement and continuing the development of nuclear weapons.
However, recently retired security officials conceded that an Israeli attack would not eliminate Iran’s extreme ideology or erase its accumulated nuclear knowledge. A viable military option could serve as leverage in coercing the world powers to level crippling sanctions against Iran or hinder Iran’s motivation to move forward with its nuclear program – without firing even one shot.
Israel has spent billions of shekels over the past 15 years preparing for an attack on Iran, especially on its air force and its intelligence apparatus. Israel assumes that Iran is constantly lying about its nuclear program and is preparing for the moment when it will have to take action.
The IDF’s preparedness also includes contending with Iran’s missile threat on Israel.
A recent Israel Air Force (IAF) drill in Greece is indicative of the scope of the IDF’s preparations. The IAF held a large-size drill with the Greek air force two months ago in which some 100 members participated, including dozens of crews from all the long-range F-16i squadrons.
The exercise simulated operations in unfamiliar territory during night and day, including strike and dogfight drills.
Most importantly, the Greek army deployed its advanced Russian-made S-300 anti-missile defense systems, similar to the systems Moscow sold to Iran and has yet to provide to its army. The advanced S-300 system is considered a major obstacle to any airstrike on Iran, but both Israel and the US have indicated they have devised ways of surmounting this threat.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) with Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni. (Haim Zach/GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Tuesday with Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentilloni and again warned against a dangerous deal with Iran.
“We believe that it is a fundamental mistake to enable such a terrorist regime [Iran] to get to nuclear weapons, which is what the proposed agreement will give them. It will give them a definite pathway to nuclear bombs – not a bomb, but nuclear bombs. It will also replenish their coffers with many billions, actually perhaps up to hundreds of billions of dollars, to enable them to continue their terrorism and aggression. This is something that is wrong. It is dangerous. It is dangerous for Israel, for Italy, for Europe, for the United States, for the world,” Netanyahu cautioned.
“The world is properly concerned and aghast at the violence and savagery of ISIS [Islamic State terror organization]. No one would dream of allowing the Islamic State to have nuclear weapons. Why would anyone consider giving the Islamic State of Iran, which is a lot more powerful than ISIS and acts with much greater power than ISIS, to have additional power of nuclear weapons? That’s a mistake. The Islamic State of Iran, the foremost sponsor of international terrorism, should not have access to nuclear weapons,” the Israeli premier asserted. “We need a better deal. This deal should not pass.”
By: United with Israel Staff
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