Israel rehearses strike on Iran nuclear sites

London Telegraph ^ | 6-20-08 | Tim Butcher

[rdl6989]

As many as 100 F16 and F15 warplanes were involved in flying long-range missions as part of the operation

While Israeli officials remained silent on the matter today, sources in Washington at the Pentagon and other US government agencies confirmed that the exercise was staged two weeks ago over the eastern Mediterranean.

The target of the exercise was 900 miles from Israel, roughly the same distance as Iran's nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz.

A Pentagon official told the New York Times the exercise was deliberately designed by Israel to send a clear signal about the seriousness of its intentions towards Iran.

"They wanted us to know, they wanted the Europeans to know, and they wanted the Iranians to know," the official said.

"There's a lot of signalling going on at different levels."

As many as 100 F16 and F15 warplanes were involved in flying long-range missions supported by air refuelling tankers. They were alongside specially configured Israeli helicopters with long-range fuel tanks which practised rescuing downed combat aircrew.

The exercise, in the first week of June, came as President George W Bush and Ehud Olmert, Israeli prime minister, both used the same language in public to put pressure on Tehran, saying that a nuclear Iran was "unacceptable".

[unkus]

Now they might have some of our F-22 Raptors mixed in there.

[vietvet67]

lol

[maizey]

They better do it while Bush is still in office.

[Robe]

They have 7 KC-707/135's..

[RightWhale]

If Iran attacks, that would be beyond doubt. Otherwise nobody will be moving.

[ASA Vet]

Is there some reason the addition (if any) information couldn’t have been posted to the existing thread?

[RightWhale]

He knows, but is in denial, that the 12th imam won’t be appearing inside Iran and has already appeared in Egypt nearly 40 years ago.

[Jacquerie]

Der Slickmeister hired loyal psychophants and political hacks to fill out his team. Reno, Allbright, Burglar, Lake, etc. Oh, and the dimwit algore.

President Bush hired the best and the brightest to be his Vice President, SECDEF, National Security Adviser, etc.

B. Hussein Obama would hire a Pooh Bear philosopher.

Is there really a rational question as to who to vote for?

[tanknetter]

They were alongside specially configured Israeli helicopters with long-range fuel tanks which practised rescuing downed combat aircrew.

Not sure if "alongside" is quite the right word for a helo/fast-mover mix. Perhaps "orbiting overhead?

If the Israelis are going to do CSAR for a strike like this, they need to have some kind of operating base for the helos that's a LOT closer to the target than Israel. The helos can't keep up with the strike packages, so its either send them out earlier (which is risky given the danger of revealing that a strike is inbound), base them closer (but Israel doesn't have closer bases) or accept that if a pilot is shot down the helos (and the helos aircover) won't show up for a good long while, and won't have much time on station.

Makes me wonder if there's a USN CVN or LHA/LHD in the Eastern Med right now ... along with the one(s) presumably stationed in the Persian Gulf.

[LowTaxesEqualProsperity]

Too late.

Iran’s nuke sites are dispersed and under inpenetrable protection.

Israel’s days are numbered.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu8puGlxI5mQA3V1XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEydGthbDRwBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA00wMDFfNzc-/SIG=122ns34s9/EXP=1214082030/**http%3a//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Air_Force

List near the bottom...

[Paperdoll]

Ssshhhh!

[Two Kids' Dad]

I thought the 12th Imam was busy running for POTUS here in AmeriKKKa this year with his hateful wife.

[RightWhale]

That would be a good guess except that the party in question is already out there doing maadi things.

[gura]

They have 6 or 7 KC-135's, and they can use ours as well.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Why are you getting your shorts in a wad over a posted second article with more details and a different title? Just curious...

[StormEye]

"Too late.

Iran’s nuke sites are dispersed and under inpenetrable protection.

Israel’s days are numbered.

Too late: Possibly

Nuke sites dispersed & inpenetrable: true and possible

Israel's days numbered: I doubt that.

[philled]

How does Israel get to Iran? How do their helicopters come in to play? WOuld they have to fly over Iraq? I’d think the Iraqi government would be hesitant to give permission at this point. Otherwise, I guess they’ve shown Syria’s air defenses to be wanting- how would Turkey react? How about flying over Saudi Arabia?

[Freeper]

Post 5
Go Israel!
Blast them back to the stone age.

In some cases it may be Blast them FORWARD to the stone age.

[HardStarboard]

>>>And of course the world will condemn Israel for it....<<<

As was the case in the Israeli raid on Iraq's Osirak reactor in 1981, the Arab world will vocally condemn the strike - while silently applauding the action.

No middle East country with the possible exception on Syria wants to see Iran with the bomb. They are all afraid to the potential for dominance of the region of an Iran with the bomb....and a nutty Shia theocracy.