WarSclerotic

Fateh missiles and Russian-Iranian military cooperation to bolster Assad.

( This story may be true on some levels, but it “stinks” to me of manipulation. – JW )

DEBKAfile Special Report December 29, 2012, 11:23 AM (GMT+02:00)

The Iranian Fateh A-110 surface missile

French and Israeli intelligence sources affirmed Saturday, Dec. 29,  that, contrary to reports appearing in the United States Friday, Iran has accelerated rather than slowed down its 20-percent grade enrichment of uranium and is racing toward a nuclear weapons capacity.

Furthermore, for the moment, there is not the slightest indication that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has any intention of accepting the Obama administration’s latest plan for a nuclear deal.

As debkafile has revealed, this plan would require Iran to discontinue production of 20-percent enriched uranium (which can be quickly converted to weapons grade material), and confine itself to producing low 5 percent uranium in agreed amounts. Tehran would also have to accept the removal from the country of its entire stock of 20-percent refined uranium.
The same sources point to the first appearance this week of Iran-made Fateh A-110 high-precision, short-range missiles in the use of the Syrian army against rebel fighters, under the guidance of Iranian officers and instructors, as underscoring the inter-dependence Tehran draws between the Syrian and nuclear issues.

Khamenei now links an acceptable solution for the Syrian dilemma to his possible nuclear flexibility.

debkafile: When Iranians talks about an inter-power solution for ending the Syrian war, they mean a deal between Washington, Moscow and Tehran on both issues.
The Fateh missiles are being fired quite openly by Iranian military personnel in command of Syrian missile units as Tehran’s answer for the deployment of US, German and Dutch NATO Patriots on the Turkish side of the Syrian border.  They also carry a message in response to Israel’s threat of offensive action against Syria if it becomes necessary to thwart its use of chemical weapons. According to our French and military sources, Tehran is using the Fateh missiles and the Iranian military presence in Syria to warn that there is no bar to their use against Turkey, Jordan and Israel as well, in the event of a US or Israel attack on Syria’s chemical stores.
On no account, will Iran permit the overthrow of Bashar Assad’s regime in Damascus.  At most, Tehran conceives of his departure in stages and handover to an emergency government led by the military or an armed forces faction to which certain opposition elements may be co-opted. Elections, in the Iranian view, must be deferred until hostilities end and the security situation is stable.

American and French sources agree that Tehran and Moscow have attained full coordination in their strategies for Syria and also on Iran’s nuclear program. They note that it was not by chance that the Russian Navy Wednesday, Dec. 26, launched its largest sea maneuver ever in the Mediterranean and the approaches to the Persian Gulf, just two days before Iranian warships, submarines and aircraft embarked on their week-long Velayat 91 sea exercise in the Straits of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, and northern parts of the Indian Ocean.

The command centers of the Russian and Iranian war games are under orders from Moscow and Tehran to jointly exhibit  naval muscle in order to bolster the Assad regime against collapse.

Parallel to the influx of Fateh missiles from Iran to Syria, Moscow is rapidly expanding the deployment of its highly-sophisticated S-400 air and missile interceptors in Russia’s southern military region near the Turkish border.

Egypt to pursue relationship with Hezbolla… JPost – Middle East.

( And the US is delivering f-16s to Egypt when?  Next week? – JW )

Photo: REUTERS

Obama signs law against Iran’s Latin America influence – Israel News, Ynetnews.

Washington tries to stem Tehran’s growing impact in region; orders series of diplomatic and political measures to that effect via ‘Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act’

AFP

President Barack Obama enacted a law to counter Iran’s alleged influence in Latin America, through a new diplomatic and political strategy to be designed by the State Department.

The Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act, passed by lawmakers earlier this year, calls for the State Department to develop a strategy within 180 days to “address Iran’s growing hostile presence and activity” in the region.Tehran has particularly close ties with Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela, where it has strengthened its presence through investments.

Although the strategy is confidential and only accessible to lawmakers, it must contain a public summary.

The text also calls on the Department of Homeland Security to bolster surveillance at US borders with Canada and Mexico to “prevent operatives from Iran, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC, its Quds Force, Hezbollah or any other terrorist organization from entering the Untied States.”

Iranian President Ahmadinejad with Venezuelan President Chavez (Archives: Reuters) 

And within Latin American countries, the text provides for a multiagency action plan to provide security in those countries, along with a “counterterrorism and counter-radicalization plan” to isolate Iran and its allies.

Washington has repeatedly stated it is closely monitoring Tehran’s activities in Latin America, though senior State Department and intelligence officials have indicated there is no apparent indication of illicit activities by Iran.

Iran, placed under a series of international sanctions because of its suspect nuclear program, has opened six new embassies in the region since 2005 – bringing the total to 11 – and 17 cultural centers.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has made regular visits to Latin America, though he only toured the region twice this year.

2013 – A Year of War?.

Amir Rapaport

28/12/2012

2013 has been defined by the IDF as a “decisive year”, but there is a reasonable chance that it will become a year of war. Even if the year ends without war on some front, it can be stated that the IDF has never entered a work year with so many question marks as it will in 2013.

The assumption at the base of the IDF’s work plan for 2013 is that the Middle East is in a period of change, one which has yet to conclude – the upheavals are continuing. Processes of historical significance which in the past would take many years are occurring within weeks and even few days. It is not only the Middle East that’s changing either: the whole international system is changing as well. The US is no longer a singular world power. Russia, China and the developing countries are challenging it. Furthermore, the things taking place here influences the reality of 2013 as well.

Iran First
At the start of 2013, the IDF understands that even if Hamas has caught all the attention in the past November (with operation Pillar of Defense), it is the Iranian front that is the truly fateful one, and it is also the one that will get hotter first, and soon. The timetable for the return of the Iranian issue to the main headlines around the world is known in advance. On January 21, a day before the elections in Israel, the second term of US president Barack Obama will official enter into effect. At the end of his first term, Obama committed to prevent Iran from reaching nuclear weapons. It is not certain that he intends to stand behind that statement at any cost, certainly when the US is weary of long years of fighting in Iraq, and has yet to conclude the withdrawal from Afghanistan (the last of the soldiers will leave in 2014). However, he will make a genuine effort to increase the pressure on the Ayatollah regime.

After establishing the new administration, the discussions with Iran will be renewed. The world powers will demand of Iran to cease the use of uranium already enriched to a level past 20%, halt the use of the centrifuges, and dismantle the nuclear reactor in Qom. The talks will end again without any results. As far as the US is concerned, the concentration of forces in the Middle East and in front of the Persian Gulf will begin towards the coming spring. In addition to increasing the military threat, the US will work to increase the economic pressure.

In June 2013, Iran is scheduled to have presidential elections. Intensifying the economic situation might bring millions of Iranians to the streets, stabilizing the regime’s stability. Therefore, the window of opportunity for the US and the West to effectively pressure Iran is between the months of March and June.
Will the US fulfill its military threat and attack in Iran? Much depends on the Iranians themselves. As things seem now, Iran will try to preserve 240 kilograms of uranium enriched to a level of 20% and above, which it will have by spring, and announce the halting of the enrichment. If the pressure is sufficient, Iran may even convert some of the enriched uranium into nuclear rods which cannot be used for military purposes. As it seems now, the US will not rush to attack, And Iran will not rush to abandon the nuclear program (it will seek ways to continue it in secret). In essence, Iran would become a “threshold state” by next spring, which would decide when to take the next step in its nuclear program at a timing that is convenient from an international perspective. Israel once declared that it would not accept Iran becoming a “threshold state”, but will it attack the Iranian nuclear facilities with an air strike, on its own? It does not seem to be the case. The possibility of an attack seemed much more realistic in October 2012, prior to the US elections.

The likelihood of a war with Iran, as a result of an Israeli or US attack: low to medium.

Hezbollah
The chances of a war with Hezbollah in Lebanon during 2013 is directly derived from the possibility of a war with Iran. Hezbollah has weakened due to the troubles of Bashar al-Assad in Syria (Hezbollah forces are fighting in Syria in an effort to preserve the regime, and even sustain quite a few casualties). The fact that Hezbollah has also become an inseparable part of the Lebanese government limits the organization’s freedom to operate militarily against Israel.

On the other hand, if Iran is attacked, Hezbollah will launch its vast arsenal of weapons against Israel, an arsenal provided by Iran precisely for such an event.
The likelihood of war with Hezbollah in 2013: low to medium.

Syria
The Syrian story is far less clear and much more volatile. At the start of 2013, this is the situation picture: Assad is losing more and more areas of control. He has two possibilities – entrench himself into an Alawite enclave, which will be supported by Iran and Hezbollah, and continue managing a civil war that could last for years, or leave for a sanctuary country. Of course, the possibility that the rebels reach him and hasten his end is also not farfetched.

The day that Assad loses his rule might be the most dangerous from Israel’s perspective. As an act of desperation which would put him in Arab history, Assad could order his last followers to attack Israel, just as he launched Scud rockets into areas under the control of the rebels in recent weeks. The firing of the Scuds teach us just how desperate he is. On the other hand, the publications this week about the use of chemical agents in Syria were probably ahead of their time.

According to updated assessments, the Syrian civilians seen in media photos were not hurt from standard Syrian chemical agents (Sarin gas or VX) but from gas grenades used to disperse demonstrations (more violent than tear gas). However, the concern in Israel of the possibility that the stockpile of chemical weapons might fall into the hands of “irresponsible persons” in Syria or to Hezbollah in Lebanon is real. The US Army has plans how to attack these weapon stockpiles the day after Assad falls, and perhaps even take control over them (which would require tens of thousands of US soldiers). However, the possibility of preventing irresponsible use of these weapons in a military manner seems to be one of low chances. Meanwhile, one chemical weapon stockpile that fell into the hands of the Free Syrian Army was not looted, but is being meticulously guarded. The rebels do not use these weapons, and Assad has consolidated the rest of the stockpiles in areas that are still in his control.

Israel is assessing that if Assad loses his regime, a civil war might last between the forces that currently comprise the coalition against him. In the next stage of the war, Alawite militias (trained by Iran and Hezbollah) will confront Salafi forces (supported by Saudi Arabia) and the Muslim Brotherhood in Syrian (supported by Qatar). The West will support Syria’s moderate, secular Sunni forces.

In the bottom line, the likelihood of an Israeli confrontation of any form with a Syrian front in the coming year is low to medium.

Jordan
With regards to Israel’s western border, Jordan continues to be an isle of stability even at the end of 2012. In recent months, King Abdullah dealt with quite a few internal problems, but it seems that he passed the harsh period intact. He appeased the anger of the Bedouin tribes that comprise his military by raising salaries, and was firm against riots at the heart of the kingdom.

Abdullah was financially abandoned by the Gulf States, and lost the strategic connection with Egypt after the fall of Hosni Mubarak. This week’s publications about the visit of Binyamin Netanyahu’s recent visit to Jordan are true, even if election considerations are the motive for the revelation is election.

Here is another one: It was agreed between the king and Netanyahu that Jodran will offer to renew the talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority headed by Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), at their palace in February of 2013. This is if Netanyahu assembles the next government, of course. If King Abdullah loses his seat in 2013 and the long border with Jordan returns to being a terror arena as in the 1960s, as a continuation of the lack of stability in the Arab world, it could be a strategic disaster for Israel.

The chances for such a nightmare scenario: low.

Egypt
With regards to Egypt, Muhammad Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood did not cease to surprise Israel’s intelligence in 2012. The Egyptian president surprised in the way in which he changed things within the Egyptian military and appointed those close to him within it, and in the pragmatism shown in his relations with the US and Israel (the continuous ties with Israel on behalf of Egypt are led by the Egyptian office for intelligence matters, and not the bureau of the president). There is no place for mistakes: Morsi’s ideology is clear, and it does not allocate a place in the Middle East for Israel. However, the need to feed 90 million mouths, including through the annual US aid of $1.3 billion, leads him to surprising realms of moderation, for now.

Morsi did not like the Hamas campaign against Israel in November, and he is in no rush to open the passage between Egypt and the Gaza Strip in Rafiah after the end of operation Pillar of Defense.

As far as Israel and the US are concern, Morsi will be examined in the way in which he works to avoid Hamas’ reacquiring long-range missiles that can threaten Tel Aviv. According to assessments, some of the missiles fired towards Israel’s central region during Pillar of Defense came from Iran, and passed thousands of kilometers through Sudan and across Egypt, without Egyptian authorities lifting a finger to prevent the transfer. Israel and the US now expect of Egypt to do everything against the transfer of weapons to the Gaza Strip from its territory. It seems that since the end of the operation, Egyptian forces have foiled at least three weapon transfers (some of which probably came from Libya or Iran). This teaches nothing as to what lies ahead.

Either way, the likelihood of the cancellation of the peace agreement by Egypt and the creation of a military or diplomatic confrontation with Israel in 2013 is negligible. In the long range, everything is much less optimistic with regards to Egypt under the Muslim Brotherhood.

Hamas is Satisfied

What of Hamas? It can boast about what is viewed in the Arab world as its great accomplishments in the confrontation with Israel during Pillar of Defense. It can also invest the same energy in establishing its civilian rule and military procurement towards the next confrontation, while simultaneously working towards reconciliation with the Fatah “brothers”, who rule in Judea and Samaria (as a stage in its effort to take control of the West Bank as well).

Even though it is the organization’s interest to preserve the calm in the next few months at least, there are countless scenarios in which the situation in the Gaza Strip can deteriorate quickly, and change into another round of fighting.

The chance of another conflict with Hamas in 2013: medium.

The West Bank
With regards to the Judea and Samaria region, no forecasts are needed regarding 2013. As previously written here in the past weeks, the region has been lively since the end of operation Pillar of Defense. This is not a replay of the first Intifada, nor is it a return to the suicide attacks of the Second Intifada, but the calm that characterized the Judea and Samaria region from 2008 and until 2012 is certainly a thing of the past.

The chances of the return of the “popular terrorism” wave to the area is high. The genie that has come out of the bottle (released by Abu Mazen) will be difficult to put back inside it, even if the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority resumes in Amman in February.

The bottom line: even if there is not a high likelihood of war in every arena in itself, 2013 is about to be a year that is unprecedented in its complexity.