The anti-war blogosphere has been awash with stories about a frightening, imminent attack by the U.S. and Israel on Iran.
Someone in Iran must be paying attention.
Iran has moved ballistic missiles into launch positions, with Israel’s Dimona nuclear plant among the possible targets, defence sources said last week.
The movement of Shahab-3B missiles, which have an estimated range of more than 1,250 miles, followed a large-scale exercise earlier this month in which the Israeli air force flew en masse over the Mediterranean in an apparent rehearsal for a threatened attack on Iran’s nuclear installations. Israel believes Iran’s nuclear programme is aimed at acquiring nuclear weapons.
Some sources say the Iranian attack on Israel has already begun--in the form of Hizbullah's constant barrage of rockets. As YNetNews puts it, "There is, however, a very serious twist to this war: It is no secret that Iran is using Lebanese territory as a frontline zone for an assault on northern Israel."
Hizbullah's rockets continue to pound Israeli cities, towns, and villages, creating a wave of Israeli refugees fleeing the north.
The displaced northerners can be seen all over Tel Aviv: They are families, young people, and children, all searching for accommodation and a place to rest.
The constant attacks by Hizbullah are creating daily, heart wrenching tragedies. Israelis are being killed and injured after trying to take cover from rocket barrages, or for simply going to work.
Is the missile movement the first warnings of a direct Iranian attack? A defensive move? Or, is it just Middle Eastern bluster and posturing, with Iran content to let Hizbullah do the heavy lifting?
The sources said Iran was preparing to retaliate for any onslaught by firing missiles at Dimona, where Israel’s own nuclear weapons are believed to be made.
Major-General Mohammad Jafari, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard, told a Tehran daily: “This country [Israel] is completely within the range of the Islamic Republic’s missiles. Our missile power and capability are such that the Zionist regime – despite all its abilities – cannot confront it.”
An editorial in a government newspaper, Jomhouri Eslami, said: “Our response will hit right at their temple.”
US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, arrived in Israel Saturday for talks with top Israeli defense officers. There was speculation that this visit was about Israel seeking permission from the U.S. for an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
“Although the visit had been planned well in advance, we got the feeling he was coming to make sure we’ll obey the strict timetable agreed with the US,” said an Israeli defense source.
Is it all just saber-rattling? Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has threatened to "wipe Israel off the face of the map", once Iran acquires nuclear weapons.
Are we seeing the prep work of an Israeli response to Ahmadinejad's nuclear threats?
Regardless, one suspects that the anti-war crowd won't be staging any protests about the Hizbullah attacks on Israeli citizens anytime soon.
by Mondoreb
Source/image:
* Iran's attack on Israel has begun
* Iran ready to strike at Israel’s nuclear heart
* civitatensis