Russian early warning radars detected the launch of an Israeli medium-range ballistic missile which passed "right" over Crete and fell into the sea area off Malta.
According to the Russians, Israel simulated a strike on Iran while there are fears that the simulation was not for a simple strike but for a nuclear one.
The Israeli missile traveled about 1,800 kilometers from the launch site, about the distance to Tehran.
The Russian think tank Rybar reports for its part:
“On June 24, Israel conducted a missile test.
People living near the Palmachim air base recorded the launch of a missile from a military installation.
Residents of Malta reported the missile flying and falling somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea. The distance was about 1700-1800 kilometers.
We searched the available Navtex and NOTAM data and indeed found flight and movement restrictions in the area east of the island nation for those dates only.
Given the distance from Israel, the flight of Elint Shavit planes (they always fly close by when testing missiles), and the lack of media coverage, the Israelis must have been trying something serious.
Moreover, a distance of 1800 km is enough to hit Tehran from Tel Aviv. And against the background of the escalation with Lebanon and the declarations of the Iranian side about possible entry into the conflict, such a test seems very symbolic."
The Iranian nuclear threat is re-emerging as a top priority for Israel as Iran takes alarming steps to advance its nuclear program. As the war continues to rage, Israel is rushing to refocus on Iran's nuclear project while pushing the US for action against Tehran.
"Intelligence indicates a move towards nuclear weapons, which is why the Israeli Air Force is conducting long-range strike exercises. Israel is asking for US support against Tehran," Israeli sources say.
The Israeli exercises included long-range flights, air refueling and deep strike operations, Israeli media Israel Hayom reports. Specifically, the Air Force created an "Iranian sector of operations" during the current war amid intelligence assessments that show Iran's alarming progress toward nuclear weapons capabilities.
Israel fears that Iran will move too quickly towards acquiring nuclear weapons while the US is busy campaigning for the presidential election. Tehran may also count on the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon to divert attention away from its nuclear moves
No comments:
Post a Comment