Iranian commander: Israeli strike could trigger WWIII
Iranian commander: Israeli strik… JPost – Iranian Threat – News.
Photo: REUTERS
A senior Iranian military commander on Sunday said that an Israeli pre-emptive strike on Iran could “trigger World War III,” repeating threats made over the past few weeks that Tehran will attempt to destroy Israel if the Jewish state launches an attack on Iran either with or without the US.
Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC’s aerospace division, also told state-owned al-Alam TV that Iran would target US bases in the region should Israel attack.
He warned that an Israeli strike could lead to a wider conflict, saying, “It’s impossible to imagine an independent war between Iran and the US or the Zionist Regime [Israel],” but rather it is more likely that other regional countries would side with Iran or Israel in case of war.
“One should not imagine that the countries in the region would declare neutrality if a war breaks out,” he added according to a report by Iran’s Press TV.
Also on Sunday, Deputy Commander of the IRGC Brigadier General Hossein Salami said Iran is no longer concerned about threats from Israel.
“We have crossed the line of worrying about threats from the Zionist Regime [Israel],” Salami said according to Sepah News, the IRGC’s official news site, adding that in its wars over the last decade Israel has encountered harsh retaliation from the Islamic Republic’s ‘regional branches’, and is no longer a threat to Iran.
“If the Zionists really do strike Iran, it would provide a historic opportunity for the Islamic Revolution to wipe [Israel] off the face of the earth,” he said, adding that Iran would then “reclaim the lands occupied by Israel for the Palestinians.”
Salami then said that an Iranian infantry battalion would be able to “break Israel’s back” within a day. “The Regime [Israel] is only 24 kilometers wide in parts,” he explained.
Salami said that Iran was known as a great power and was capable of fighting on many fronts.
“We do not intend to start a war, but if someone starts a war against us, we will respond offensively and strike everywhere and will not stop,” he added, noting that the IRGC’s strategies and tactics are offensive, not defensive, in nature.
“Our enemy will begin the war, but we will be the ones to end it,” he asserted.
Salami said that Iran had gained knowledge in weapons manufacturing, including modern missile technology. The Islamic Republic has missiles capable of destroying enemy bases in the region, he claimed.
Referring to Iran’s recent announcements of new military developments, Salami noted that Iran had unveiled its Ra’ad (‘Thunder’) air defense system during its annual military parade on Friday.
The Ra’ad system is equipped with domestically made Taer (‘Bird’) missiles, which have a range of 50 kilometers and can hit targets at 22,000 meters, according to the Iranian state media.
WarSclerotic 
September 23, 2012 at 8:45 PM
Reblogged this on TeMeMi.
September 23, 2012 at 11:41 PM
I would expect even more comments like these from Iranian leadership…. especially since Israel has decided to wave the sword around instead of act! What happened to the Israel that would do what was necessary without asking / waiting for permission. If the Iranian threat is really true, there must be some absolutely incredible reason beyond the understanding of those who read and write into this blog as to why the missiles and bombs haven’t already fallen!
September 24, 2012 at 8:10 AM
I can give you two good reasons. One, the United States is discouraging Israel from attacking Iran or at the very least is turning their backs on them and not supporting an attack and two, can any one say World War III. The potential for an attack on Iran to escalate into a regional war, possibly World War and possibly involving the use of nuclear weapons is extremely high. What would happen if chemical weapons were used against Israel, how would Israel respond? What happened if Iran fired on and seriously damaged a U.S. aircraft carrier, dead sailors or possibly sank it? How would the U.S. respond? Any country who had any thought about attacking Iran, is stepping to the edge, but not throwing the first punch. It’s not as simple as 1-2-3, going in drop bombs on Iran and get out; mission accomplished. There’s too many players on the game board for it to be simple like Iraq, or Afghanistan. Most people are viewing the initial attack scenarios and are not considering the long term implications of such an action. I’m sure the Pentagon’s war game scenario computers are indicating bad things about the consequences of such an action. Let’s look at reality, what are the chances attacking Iran will stop their nuclear weapons ambitions? If attacked Iran might say to themselves “we were attacked this proves we need nuclear weapons”. I’m not saying Iran should or should not be attacked , I’m just trying to think of reasons, like you indicated, why Iran hasn’t been attacked already.This whole issue is complicated with no easy answer.
September 24, 2012 at 9:25 AM
I found the analysis of Lefty very interesting and, in the usual circumstances, accurate. But we are not here in any usual or rational circumstances when we are dealing with shiite clerics from the 17th century with an arsenal of the 21st century.
In this fateful situation, Israel has to finish the job in one move.