Iran canceled air show when Russia warned Israel planned to destroy all 140 warplanes

DEBKAfile ^ | April 24, 2009 | DEBKAfile

[pelican001]

DEBKAfile's Iranian and intelligence sources disclose that Moscow warned Tehran Friday April 17 that Israel was planning to destroy all 140 fighter-bombers concentrated at the Mehr-Abad Air Force base for an air show over Tehran on Iran's Army Day the following day. The entire fleet was accordingly removed to remote bases and the display cancelled.

In the first week of April, Tehran announced it would stage its biggest air show ever to dramatize a ceremonial military parade in the capital on April 18. Iran would show the world that it is capable of fighting off an Israeli attack on its nuclear facilities. Instead only four aircraft flew over the saluting stand. Iranian media explained that the big show was cancelled due to "bad weather and poor visibility," when in fact Tehran basked in warm and sunny weather.

Moscow had informed the Iranians that its spy satellites and intelligence sources had picked up preparations at Israeli Air Force bases to destroy the 140 warplanes, the bulk of the Iranian air force, on the ground the night before the display, leaving its nuclear sites without aerial defense. A similar operation wiped out the entire Egyptian air fleet in the early hours of the 1967 war.

[pelican001]

If this is true, the implications would include (1) that there is no doubt that Israel is planning to go ahead with an attack sometime soon, and (2) that there are effective spies for Russia/Iran within the IDF. Stay tuned.

[AppyPappy]

Russia called later and asked Iran if their refrigerator was running.

[FatherofFive]

It's the US and Israel against evil in the world.

And now with zer0bama as CIC, I'm not sure about US anymore.

[DesertRhino]

hhahahahaaa ok,, YOUR comment made my day. ROFLMAO

[benjibrowder]

If this is true, Netanyahu is seething right now.

I predict Mossad will be busy this week.

[snowrip]

My favorite avatar from another website is a Star of David with the words “SIX DAYS, BITCHES” emblazoned across it.

[The Sons of Liberty]

The Russians spoiled all the fun. I never liked ruskies.

[OrioleFan]

Zero could have his own Bay of Pigs...

[pelican001]

I’m sorry to say that Odumbo’s USA is now part of the evil. Israel is all alone in this. I just hope that the Usurper in Chief doesn’t order a shoot-down of the Israeli attack force.

[rahbert]

Likely given the numbers of Russians in Israel.

[bert]

or, Russia had bad intel and the IDF pulled off a colossal joke

[ontap]

Iran's' latest domestically built air craft!

[Glenn]

If this is true

It is Debka. Nothing is true. Wean yourself from it.

[Bean Counter]

If only this came from anyone besides DEBKA...

[JimRed]

I just hope that the Usurper in Chief doesn’t order a shoot-down of the Israeli attack force.

Would that be a "lawful" order?

[KarlInOhio]

That would have been one heck of an air show.

and (2) that there are effective spies for Russia/Iran within the IDF.

They don't necessarily have to be within the IDF. If the satellite pictures were there it would be a pretty clear warning. I don't know how visible the air fields are from the near the bases, but Israel is so small that I doubt they can afford miles of space between the fences and the runways. If so, it wouldn't be hard to see a lot of aircraft being prepped for a very big mission. Even keeping track of businesses around the base could show a rush - similar to keeping track of late night pizza deliveries to the Pentagon would show when something big is about to happen.

[Cheburashka]

The story is obvious nonsense. The Russians would never warn the Iranians. Never.

If the Iranian Air Force was destroyed on the ground the Russians could make money selling them new planes.

[Moonman62]

If this is true,

It's DEBKA. It's not true.

[massgopguy]

“One heck of an Air Show”, with Dean Wormer in the reviewing stand watching the IDF fly away and he says “I hate those guys”.

[Jonah Hex]

Oh man, if this wouuld only happen on July 4:

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air...