Report: IAF wiped out Hezbollah long-range missiles during war

Haaretz ^ | 10-24-2006 | Aluf Benn,

[M. Espinola]

The Israel Air Force destroyed 59 intermediate and long-range missile launchers in the Hezbollah arsenal during the second day of the war in Lebanon, during a raid that lasted 34 minutes, according to research recently published by David Makovsky and Jeffrey White of the Washington Institute of Near East Policy. The success of the raid was the greatest Israel Defense Forces achievement during the war, and according to Israeli assessments, it prevented Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, from being able to carry out his threats and strike central Israel with missiles. The air attack of 13 July struck the Zelzal and Fajr missiles in the Hezbollah arsenal, both made in Iran. The range of the Zelzal can endanger the Tel Aviv area from Lebanon. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and senior IDF officers prided themselves for the success of this air raid. Olmert described it as "an impressive, perhaps unprecedented, achievement," and his aides went as far as to compare it to the destruction of Arab air forces during the first day of fighting in the Six-Day War, in 1967. However, to date, details of the operation remain unclear, and official sources in Israel avoid specifying the precise nature of the target and the results of the strike. Israeli officers had said during the war that the "34 minute operation" was based on accurate information from Military Intelligence that enabled the pinpointing of the missile launchers. The AIF had trained for several years for such an operation, and the operational plans were presented on several occasions to former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz.

[M. Espinola]

[Southack]

No, no, no. Don't you know that you are only allowed to get a wild-eyed look on your face while chanting that "Israel Lost!" "Israel Lost!" "Israel Lost!" because they didn't nuke Southern Lebanon from orbit?!



< /end bizaaro armchair quarterbacking sarcasm >

[Nachum]

Whatever. Olmert is a shmuck and needs to go.

[M. Espinola]

"Whatever. Olmert is a shmuck and needs to go."

I fully agree. There needs to be new elections.

[M. Espinola]

;)

[tlb]

I lean to the "Israel lost" position. Hardware losses can be made good in a brief time, and in all likelihood this is under way.

The IAF strike saved Israel from their immediate use in THAT war, but the reality on the ground is that Israel failed to clear away Hizballah from the sites from which they will try again NEXT time. So yes, I'd have to say if Israel didn't lose, they certainly didn't win either.

The current Israeli govt should have been already gone. They seem much more adept at fighting the Israeli oppositon then they do the actual enemy.

[M. Espinola]

If there had been 'real' leadership (Olmert) the situation would have been handled differently and therefore the outcome would have resulted in a resounding defeat for Iran's & Syria's terrorist proxies, Hezballah.

Phase two is coming up sooner or later.

Iran's Axis of Evil cohort North Korea has brazenly had their nuke weapons test, and thus far there has been no tangible reciprocity.

It's only a guess but the likelihood of Tehran's Islamic tyrants pulling the same nuclear stunt could transpire within six months. Even if numb numb Olmert is unfortunately still PM he will be forced to act against Iran for Israel's national security. The Assad clan in Damascus plus Hezballah & Hamas is not going to simply sit there while their Nazi like OPEC benefactors in Tehran are paying the highest price possible for threatening to exterminate Israel as a nation.

When the time arrives it can only be hoped Washington, London & other 'allies' currently serving either Iraq or Afghanistan join in sending Jihad Inc a message they will never forget.

[sine_nomine]

The spineless leader prevented an overwhelming victory, so they lost. They lost street credibility most of all in the Muslim world. They revealed their lack of logistics, their poor security, etc.

[Convert from ECUSA]

I'll third the motion that Olmerde is a schmuck and needs to go! Leo Amery's words to Neville Chamberlain in May 1940 seem appropriate for Olmerde: "You have been here too long for any good that you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. I the name of God, Go!" (Amery was actually quoting Cromwell's word to the infamous long parliament).

[SJackson]

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----------------------------

[TXnMA]

Any news on the kidnapped soldiers?

[familyop]

Many of the same people who opposed real military action in Lebanon also complain that Israel lost the fight. That's much like answering arguments in favor of Israel's survival by saying, "So what?" The Amalekite (lack of) logic is getting tiresome. Nuke Lebanon.

[M. Espinola]

"Any news on the kidnapped soldiers?"

Unfortunately there a few new developments relating to the ongoing plight of the kidnapped IDF troops, Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser & Eldad Regev.

Sign The Petition For The Kidnapped IDF Soldiers

[Redleg Duke]

Well, that explains the empty threats from the towelheads.

[M. Espinola]

For the future of Israel's national security, I totally concur, Olmert must depart, the sooner the better.

[oceanview]

I'm not buying it.

[RobbyS]

So why didn't they get the word out weeks ago? Such information would have had great effect on Arab opinion. and countered the claims of Hezbollah?

[M. Espinola]

The jihadist terrorist enemy in Lebanon is the very same Syrian and Iranian armed & trained killers infesting Iraq murdering American & Coalition troops, just as they were murdering Israelis in Lebanon.

[M. Espinola]

That's a good question.

[familyop]

...agreed. My point was that if others in Lebanon don't want to be collateral casualties, they had better get Iran's and Syria's emissaries out of there. Sooner or later, we're going to stop bothering with propaganda and guerrilla games to wage a real war. Light intensity tactics will only work until our whole U.S. population gets angry.

Most Americans Support Right of Jews to Live and Build in Judea-Samaria
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/927783/posts
June 10, 2003
"By a margin of nearly five to one, Americans oppose the Bush administration's demand to halt all further Jewish construction in Judea-Samaria (the West Bank) and Gaza . . . The poll, carried out by John McLaughlin & Associates, surveyed a scientific sample of 1,000 American adults on May 21, 2003.

We Americans need to save money, IMO. Because the longer our leaders wait to take effective action (Iran), the higher oil will go when the time comes.