WarSclerotic

ISIS: Iran completed clean-up of nuclear evidence at military site – Israel News, Ynetnews.

DC-based Institute says satellite imagery indicates Iran completed massive ‘clean-up activity’ at Parchin military complex following IAEA’s request for access to suspected nuclear site

Ynet

The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) recently published new satellite imagery in which it appears that the massive clean up activity performed at an Iranian military complex suspected of nuclear activity, has been completed.

Over the past few months, the institute has released several images showing what appears to be the final result of considerable sanitization and earth displacement activity on the Parchinmilitary base.

The Parchin site garnered international attention in late February 2012 when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) declared its interest in inspecting it in compliance with its mandate to ensure that there had been no military nuclear related activity. Meanwhile, Iran has consistently refused to grant the IAEA accessto Parchin.

According to the ISIS institute, the site in question had remained unchanged since early 2004 until a month following the IAEA request for access; then what appeared to be clean-up activity began. Iran denied doing any cleanup, calling it routine construction work.

ISIS imagery

The latest image, which was released in late July, showed stark differences in the site’s current layout from earlier imagery. The entire area surrounding the buildings appears to have been bulldozed, covered, and flattened.

The only remaining traces of activity, according to the ISIS, are the apparent base of one of the demolished buildings and earth piles formed as a result of earth removal and displacement. There are no traces of heavy machinery or construction materials suggesting that no major activity is planned in the near future.

The institute stated that the degree of the site’s modification and the fact that this apparent cleanup work started soon after the IAEA’s request for access, cast further doubt on Iran’s claims that its nuclear program does not or has never had any military aspects.

Iran warns Syria conflict could engulf Isr… JPost – Middle East.

Photo: Sana / Reuters

DUBAI – Iran said Sunday that the conflict in Syria could engulf Israel, as it warned against foreign intervention there, Iranian media reported.

“The fire that has been ignited in Syria will take the fearful (Israelis) with it,” Iran Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said on Sunday, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

Larijani accused the United States and regional countries he did not name of providing military support to rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key Arab ally of Iran.

Syria has accused Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia of backing rebels in Syria and fueling violence there. Iran meanwhile has supported Assad’s efforts to crush the 17-month revolt.

“What really allows these countries to interfere in internal Syrian affairs?” Larijani was quoted as saying.

Larijani is considered a moderate conservative and a close follower of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the most powerful man in Iran who decides the country’s foreign policy. Larijani is also a fierce critic of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and widely expected to run for president in 2013.

On Friday, following his visit to Moscow to discuss Syria, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said “terrorist groups” supported by foreign forces were operating in Damascus and Aleppo, IRNA reported.

Amir-Abdollahian said “tens of thousands of weapons” had entered Syria from neighboring countries and were being used by groups including al-Qaida.

“Unfortunately America and regional countries … do not take steps to control the borders,” Amir-Abdollahian was quoted as saying.

Amir-Abdollahian said he did not believe Syria would be attacked by foreign powers, but that if it were, it would not need Iran’s help in defending itself.

“Syria has been ready for years to respond to any military attack against it by (Israel) or other countries, and can respond strongly to any military action by itself and with complete readiness,” Amir-Abdollahian was quoted as saying.

Iran and Russia support the six-point plan presented by former UN peace envoy Kofi Annan to solve the crisis. A frustrated Annan resigned his post last week, blaming “finger-pointing and name-calling” at the UN Security Council for his decision to quit.

Iran has blamed the United States and countries in the region for the failure of Annan’s plan.

Op-Ed: Are Israeli citizens preparing for war? (Includes first-hand account).

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/330121#ixzz22gO0M2Xa

US leaks plot to hit Iran N-plants | The Australian.

Iran official: Fire from U.S. actions in Syria will ‘gobble up’ Israel – Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper.

Iranian parliamentary speaker accuses West of plotting to affect Syria crisis; Syrian opposition forces report continued shelling on city of Aleppo.

Wartime tasks split: US to smash Iran’s missiles, Israel tackle Syria, Hizballah.

DEBKAfile Exclusive Report August 5, 2012, 1:38 PM (GMT+02:00)

Iran’s Fateh-110 missile

An authoritative US military source told debkafile Sunday, Aug. 5 that the American armed forces are standing ready for war with Iran. Without going into the thorny question of who should lead the operation to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, the US or Israel, it is understood that one of the US Air Force’s tasks will be to destroy Iran’s Shehab-3 ballistic missile batteries which have Israel and Saudi Arabia within range.
This task is not as formidable as Iranian spokesmen would have the world believe. Tehran’s entire stock of those missiles is no more than 30-40. That quantity is not nearly enough to take on the entire gamut of potential wartime foes, the United States Middle East bases, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Turkey. They would quckly be picked off by American Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Systems and Israeli Arrow guided interceptor rockets, which are synchronized through the advanced US X-Band radar systems installed in the Israeli Negev and southeast Turkey.

In any case, it is hard to believe that Iran would empty its entire ballistic missile arsenal in a single blazing assault at the start of war. “They are too canny to leave themselves without some Shehabs in reserve for crises even more acute than the outbreak of war,” said the US military source.
He went on to explain that by wiping out the Shehabs, the US high command would leave the Israeli Air Force free to take on the thousands of rockets Syria, the Lebanese Hizballah and the Palestinian Hamas and Jihad Islami have stored ready for shooting in support of an Iranian missile offensive – not just against Israel, but Turkey and Jordan as well.

Saturday, the Iranian Defense Minister, Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, announced that his ministry’s aerospace industries had successfully test-fired the fourth generation of high-precision Fateh-110 missiles with a range of over 300km.
He said that the new missiles can hit and destroy both land and sea targets, enemy concentration points, command centers, missile sites, ammunition dumps, radars and other targets with 100 percent precision.
debkafile’s military sources add that the Fateh-110 is the core weapon Syria and Hizballah have stocked for destroying strategic targets in Israel, Jordan and Turkey.
Sunday, Aug. 5, a senior Israeli defense official reported that Israel is upgrading its Arrow II ballistic missile shield, designed to intercept medium range rockets and fill the gaps left by Iron Dome. The announcement in Tehran was taken in Israel as a threat and an indication that the improved Fatah-110 had already been dispatched to its Damascus and Beirut destinations, so exacerbating the perils of Syria’s Scud missiles and chemical weapons which its government has threatened to use against external enemies.

PM: Israel won’t be spared even if US attacks Iran – Israel News, Ynetnews.

In closed talks, Netanyahu says missiles will be fired at Israel even if US strikes Iran but admits likelihood of US strike is small

Itamar Eichner

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in closed talks over the weekend that a United States strike on Iran will not necessarily minimize the chances of a missile attack on Israel, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Sunday.

“I would prefer that the US attack Iran, but the likelihood of that is small,” he said. “In any case – even if the US attacks, missiles will be fired at Israel.”

This scenario is not as grave as the possibility that Iran obtains a nuclear weapon, he said. “Even if missiles fall, it’s still preferable to an atom bomb over our heads. If Iran obtains an atom bomb it’ll be over Israel’s head, not anyone else’s.”

The prime minister countered the claim that a military strike will set back Iran’s nuclear program just a couple of years. “They said the same thing about the Iraq reactor,” he noted. “They said the (Iraqis) could rebuild the reactor within two years, they still don’t have a bomb.”

‘Sanctions ineffective’

Netanyahu estimated that Iran is a few months away from becoming nuclear. “The time frame isn’t measured in days or weeks, but not in years either.” He credited Israeli policy with the toughening of the sanctions but noted that other than hurting Iran’s economy they have yet to compromise the nuclear program.

Addressing the “day-after” debate, he said: “I’m tired of this atmosphere. Stop talking ‘for the record’. I am responsible and if a commission of inquiry is established it will be on me. I take full responsibility.”

Sources in the meetings got the impression that a decision about a strike has yet to be made, but that the prime minister is trying to create the impression he is determined to act. Netanyahu insisted that he is being completely rational in considering the matter.

The prime minister’s bureau said in response, “We don’t comment on reports from closed meetings, even when the quotes are inaccurate.”

Iran: Zionists feel fear

Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani warned Israel to drop its recently intensified war rhetoric against Tehran, but pointed out that the Israelis’ hawkish remarks indicate their fear of the Islamic Republic, the Fars news agency reported.

“Today, the Zionists have uttered words against Iran and Hezbollah bigger than their mouths, but reading between the lines one can find out that Zionists feel fear,” Larijani said on Sunday.

He made the remarks, addressing an open session of the parliament in Tehran.

It has also been reported that senior ministers are claiming they are not being briefed on the Iranian issue. “We are expected to serve as a rubber stamp,” said a member of the political-security cabinet.

“It’s an event of historic and strategic importance. How does one expect us to vote yes or no when the day arrives,” one minister said.

The prime minister’s bureau dismissed the claims. “The discussions on the most sensitive issues over the past three years have been unprecedented in scope, frequency and depth,” a statement said.

Dudi Cohen and Tova Tzimuki contributed to this report

Kidnapped Iranians are Revolutionary Guards, FSA says in Al Arabiya video.

( Surprise, surprise… – JW )

Sunday, 05 August 2012

Syrian rebels claim that the 48 Iranians it kidnapped on Saturday are members of the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guards and not pilgrims as Iran alleges, in footage aired exclusively by Al Arabiya TV.

The rebels “captured 48 of the Shabiha (militiamen) of Iran who were on a reconnaissance mission in Damascus,” said a man dressed as an officer of the Free Syrian Army, in the video aired by Al Arabiya.

“During the investigation, we found that some of them were officers of the Revolutionary Guards,” he said, showing ID documents taken from one of the men, who appeared in the background with a large Syrian independence flag held by two armed men behind them.

Abdel Nasser Shmeir, interviewed later by Al Arabiya and presented as the commander of Al-Baraa Brigade, gave similar details.

“They are 48, in addition to an Afghani interpreter,” he said, claiming that the captives were members of a 150-strong group sent by Iran for “reconnaissance on the ground.”

Iran has appealed to Turkey and Qatar, both with close relations with the Syrian opposition, for help in securing the release of the hostages it claims were pilgrims visiting the Sayyida Zeinab shrine, a Shiite pilgrimage site in the southeastern suburbs of Damascus.

Shmeir said his men “have not yet entered into any contacts” about the hostages.

Israel Racing against War, Upgrades Missile Shield – Defense/Security – News – Israel National News.

An experiment on the Arrow

Israel news photo: IDF spokesman

Israel is racing against an attack by Iran and Syria and is upgrading its US-backed Arrow missile shield in the wake of a possible a chemical weapon attack from Syria, a defense official told Reuters Sunday.

The new “Block 4” generation of guided interceptor rockets, radars and technologies for synchronizing Arrow with U.S. systems was being installed in deployed Israeli batteries, a process that would take several weeks, the official told the news agency.

The Arrow system, operational since 2000, is designed to blow up incoming missiles at altitudes high enough for non-conventional warheads to disintegrate safely.

“It is part of the technological race in the region,” added the official, who insisted on anonymity,

Besides the threat of a nuclear threat for Iran in the next year or two, Israel is now preparing for a possible chemical warfare attack from Syria, where the civil war could spur Syrian President Bashar Assad to turn his missiles on Israel. The same situation could arise if Hizbullah, which is thought to have accessed part of the chemical arsenal, decides to attack Israel from Lebanon.

Israel has threatened to attack preemptively in both countries, a prospect that could trigger a wider war and clash with Washington’s efforts to resolve the crises diplomatically.

The Pentagon and U.S. firm Boeing Co. are partners in Arrow, an investment that the Obama administration hopes will help stay the Israelis’ hand, according to Reuters.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said last week that Arrow, like a similar Israeli interceptor for short-range guerrilla rockets, Iron Dome, was “designed to prevent wars”.

Israel is developing Arrow III, which is due to be operational in 2014 or 2015, while deploying the current Arrow II. Unlike previous generations of the interceptor, Arrow III will engage incoming missiles in space, using detachable warheads that, turning into “kamikaze” satellites, will seek out and slam into the target.

Israel is also working on a more powerful rocket interceptor than Iron Dome, known as David’s Sling or Magic Wand, which is due out next year. Meshed together and with U.S. counterparts, the three Israeli systems would form a multi-tier shield providing several opportunities to intercept incoming missiles.

Rumsfeld: Israel needs to delay Iran’s nuclear program – Israel News, Ynetnews.

Former US defense secretary agrees with PM Netanyahu on lack of efficient sanctions on Iran; says ‘Israel’s intelligence on Iran is excellent, all Israelis need to do is delay them’

Yitzhak Benhorin

WASHINGTON – While US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta attempted to convince top Israeli politicians and security officials not to launch a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities during his visit to Israel last week, his predecessor Donald Rumsfeld, seems more prepared for a possible attack.

In an interview with Fox News, the former US Defense Secretary said “the prime minister of Israel, Netanyahu, is probably correct. Sanctionstend not to work very well over a long period of time.”

Rumsfeld, who served as secretary of defense during both the Ford and Bush administrations, told Fox that “Israel’s intelligence on Iran is excellent.” He further denied the claims that an attack on Iran’s nuclearfacilities would not yield any results.

“I don’t think that Israel has to destroy all of Iran’s nuclear capability, said Rumsfeld adding that “Iran is a sophisticated country. They must have deeply buried sites. And I’m sure the Israelis know precisely what they currently have.”

“All the Israelis need to do is delay them,” the Republican official said, clarifying that Israel “wouldn’t need to destroy Iran’s facilities 100 percent, like they were able to do in Iraq or in Syria.”

Rumsfeld further criticized the pattern of leaks emerging from White House concerning Iran, and said that “If I were in the Israeli government, I don’t think I would notify the United States government of any intent to do anything about Iran. So my guess is, given the pattern of leaks out of the White House, that any prime minister of Israel would not call the United States and give clear intentions as to what they plan to do.”

While in Israel last week, Panetta assured both the prime minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barakthat the US would act when it becomes clear that military intervention in Iran is unavoidable.

During his visit, Panetta echoed President Barack Obama’s position that currently the international community should focus on curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions through harsh sanctions rather than considering a military strike.