[If this deal (mentioned below) between Russia and Iran goes through, sending S-300 missiles to Iran, then Israel's window of opportunity for taking out the nuclear facilities will be shortened considerably]
Israeli officials revealed Monday that the Islamic Republic had stepped up its support for Lebanese Shiite terror group Hezbollah over the past few weeks.
According to a Channel 2 report Monday, Israel has observed an increase in Iran weapons shipments to Hezbollah members — in Lebanon and on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. Iran had also sent weaponry to Hamas rulers in Gaza and was even attempting to arm Hamas members in the West Bank, the report said.
“Israel warns: Iran is acting in recent days and weeks to prepare and arm Hezbollah for conflict with Israel, on a large scale,” Channel 2’s diplomatic correspondent Udi Segal tweeted later Monday.
The TV report said Israel was alarmed that the sanctions relief Iran would enjoy if it reaches a deal on its nuclear program would free up “billions of dollars” for further such weapons shipments, and for Iranian support for terrorism. The TV report said the officials added that it was “hard to see” how the deal, so firmly backed by the US, could help the interests of Israel and other US allies.
Israel expressed alarm over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement earlier Monday that he was lifting the block on the transfer of the controversial weapons system to Tehran, against which both the US and Israel have lobbied hard.
“The development of bilateral cooperation [with Russia] and with neighboring countries in various fields can be very effective for lasting stability and security in the region,” Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said, quoted by state news agency IRNA.
A senior Israeli official told Haaretz on Monday night that the Kremlin briefed Israel on its decision a short while before announcing the move. The official said Israel is worried components of the air-defense system will be transferred to Syria and Hezbollah, seriously hamstringing the air force’s ability to dominate the skies over Lebanon or Syria.
Lavrov said Putin’s move to lift the block on transferring the weapon system was done after the nuclear agreement this month between world powers and Tehran made the self-imposed embargo unnecessary.
He added that Russia did not want to continue outlaying money to prevent the deal between Russia and Iran and hinted that Moscow was unhappy with international pressure to quash the sale.
Israeli officials said supply of the system to Iran could prevent any military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Channel 2 news reported. The officials said the supply, if it goes ahead, would change the balance of power in the region. The TV report also cited unnamed American officials responding with concern to the news.
President Vladimir Putin on Monday lifted a ban on supplying Iran with sophisticated S-300 air defense missile systems, the Kremlin said, after Tehran struck a deal with the West over its nuclear program.
Israeli officials denounced the decision as proof of Tehran’s untenable newfound “legitimacy” following nuclear talks.
Israeli officials said supply of the system to Iran could prevent any military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Channel 2 news reported. The officials said the supply, if it goes ahead, would change the balance of power in the region. The TV report also cited unnamed American officials responding with concern to the news.
A decree signed by Putin removes a ban on “the shipment from Russia to Iran” of the S-300 missiles, the Kremlin said in a statement.
Russia signed a 2007 contract to sell Tehran the S-300 system, but the weaponry was never delivered amid strong objections by the United States and Israel.
The decision to lift the delivery freeze comes after Tehran and international powers including Russia made a major breakthrough this month by agreeing an outline deal aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday night said Iran was being emboldened by the emerging nuclear deal with world powers to expand its support for terror activity throughout the region, and warned Tehran was “grasping the Middle East with arms of terror and blood.”
The prime minister’s comments came hours after Russia announced that it would supply the Islamic Republic with S-300 missile air defense systems, prompting objections from Israel and the US.
“Iran draws encouragement from the concessions that it is receiving from the major powers,” Netanyahu said. “The message that Iran is receiving from this is that it is not being called upon to halt its aggression, that it can continue and even increase this aggression, and this is exactly what it is doing. It has been doing so in recent months, in recent weeks and in recent days…It is grasping the Middle East with arms of terror and blood.”
“Iran is receiving legitimacy to continue these actions and when the sanctions are lifted shortly, if indeed the deal is approved, it will receive billions of dollars to finance its war and terrorism machines, with international legitimacy,” he said.
“Before our very eyes an absurd reality is taking shape in which the key to our fate and the future of the Middle East is liable to be delivered into the hands of the fanatical Iranian regime. An agreement full of holes with Iran will not ensure regional stability; a vigorous and resolute policy that prevents it from arming itself with nuclear weapons and compels it to halt its takeover of other nations would,” Netanyahu said.
He maintained there was nothing that could convince him to support the “very bad deal” reached in Lausanne.
“There’s no explanation that can convince me that the deal is a good deal for a simple reason,” Netanyahu said. “It’s a bad deal. A very bad deal. It is a deal that leaves Iran in possession of the capability to arm itself with nuclear weapons, that fills its coffers with a lot of money and that not only enables it to continue its terrorism and aggression in the Middle East and around the world but does not even demand that it stop doing so.”
Israel has to strike soon. We could be looking at Ezekiel 38.
ReplyDeleteThe S-300 apparent move, makes me giggle. Russia has gone back and forth so many times on this, Iran probably already has them. Iran already had their people train on the S-300 in China, years ago.
ReplyDeleteIsrael already has this S-300 system overridden. They have to make a public "oh no" comment, just to confuse their enemies. Israel already has modified their aircraft, and trained against the system back in 2008, at the invite of Greece who has the same system.
To quote IAF commander Maj. -Gen
ReplyDeleteIdo Nehushtan back in 2008:
"When asked by the paper whether the Israeli military was able to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities, which are spread around the country and partly located underground, Nehushtan said, "Please understand that I do not want to get into details. I can only say this: "It is not a technical or logistical question."
Remember, Israel went into Syria twice in 2007, without detection making Russia's equipment look obsolite! LOL!
Most important of all, what does His Word tells us :)
ReplyDelete*Israel will never be destroyed, severely damaged, but not destroyed.
* Gods Judgements are coming to the enemy nations surrounding Israel, including Iran (Elam), when He "Rebukes" them at the close of the Isaiah 17 war. This is why Iran has only a weak remnant to tag-along with Russia in the Ezekiel 38 invasion that quickly follows.
Iran is going down, big time...in fact God says He personally sends them and others to the "Pit" in Ezekiel 32...
Have to agree here....on several occasions, Israel has just switched the S-300 "off", and then gone about their business of destroying the target.
ReplyDeleteI realize that over the years Russia would have tried to figure this one out, and maybe they have, and modified the system to combat it....but I just don't sense any real panic over this on Israel's part.
It seems like Israel is making the required "objections"....not screaming and yelling like they're capable.