Iran has made clear that it intends to respond to the killing, presumably by Israel, of the head of Hamas’ political wing, Ismail Haniyeh, in a guesthouse in Tehran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian argued against a direct attack on Israel, suggesting that instead the Iranians attack Mossad bases in neighboring Arab countries. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps generals, however, want to launch a direct attack, and it seems that they have convinced the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, to reject Pezeshkian’s suggestion and to support the direct attack they favor. The Israelis expect such a blow to be delivered, and are preparing to deliver a far greater series of blows in response, including most likely an attack on Kharg Island, where 90% of Iran’s oil exports flow through its terminals. The IDF can also be expected to hit industrial sites, including petrochemical plants deep inside Iran, in an attempt to sink the Iranian economy.
The Americans have made clear that they stand ready to help Israel defend itself against an Iranian attack. A first carrier strike group, the USS Ford, arrived off the coast of Israel last week. The Ford carries 75 aircraft. Another carrier strike group, the USS Eisenhower, has now left Norfolk headed to the eastern Mediterranean. It carries 60 aircraft. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has also ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to the Middle East. Finally, Austin has also ordered the USS Georgia, a nuclear-powered submarine armed with more than 150 cruise missiles, to the Middle East. This impressive arms buildup should be cause for alarm in Tehran. More on the arrival of so much American military might to the region, intended to help Israel defend itself, can be found here: “US: We must be ready for significant attacks on Israel by Iran,” by Tovah Lazaroff, Jerusalem Post, August 12, 2024:
The US has to be ready for what could be a significant set of attacks against Israel by Iran and its proxies, US National Security Communications adviser John Kirby told reporters in a virtual briefing Monday, as international diplomats raced to avert a regional war.
“We have increased our force posture and capabilities in the region even in just the last few days,” Kirby said, adding that “we have to be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks.”
The most important step right now is making sure that “Israel can defend itself and that we, the United States, have in place the proper force to help them defend themselves,” Kirby said….
But what if the IDF concludes that a pre-emptive strike on Iran is necessary, the way it did in early June 1967, when the IAF launched a surprise attack on the Egyptian Air Force, destroying 388 planes and killing 100 Egyptian pilots in just the first few hours of the war, a move that guaranteed Israel’s victory in what became known as the Six-Day War? Would the Americans still be willing to help shoot down incoming Iranian missiles, fired in response to a pre-emptive strike on Iran by the IDF? I am convinced that they would. Certainly the IDF must be factoring into its plans what it can expect in the way of support from the Americans under different scenarios.
Jordan has already quietly conveyed to both Israel and the U.S. that Jordan’s airspace will remain open to Israeli aircraft in case of war with Iran.
The American show of support “to help Israel defend itself,” consisting of three carrier battle groups, led by the USS Ford, the USS Eisenhower, and now the USS Abraham Lincoln, as well as a nuclear submarine, the USS Georgia — should make even the IRGC hotheads rethink their plans. Meanwhile, the IDF high command must surely be thinking of the Talmudic injunction: “If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first.”
࿗Infidel࿘ says
When you say “the Americans”, who are you talking about exactly? It can’t be Kamala, since she’s doing a juggling act b/w the “Death to America” crowd and what’s left of her Jewish donors as well as her Jewish voters in Philly. It can’t be Biden, since he’s taking daylong naps at Rehoboth beach. So are ground protocols just letting staff on the ground at al Udeid call all the shots about what to do and when?
And we have another 6 months of this before a new administration is in. And if it’s Kamala’s, Israel is on its own
ceres says
Anyone who has read the idiot text in the koran and the endless text of kill/hatred, with threats if the muslim doesn’t participate in the murder of others and rewards if they do. The problem is islam..its text, prophet’s behaviour, laws. Islam is a death threat for everyone else in the world , NO exceptions. Israel with jews surrounded by muslims is just a thorn in their aim for worldwide dominance. They have come to kill in all countries, ALL. As I have written before, Huntington in ‘the clash of civilisations’ wrote that all islam’s borders and innards are bloody….that others can get along but NO_ONE gets along with islam, and the real split is between islam and everyone else. Let the world recognise islam’s religious war on all and stand together against islam. The problem is islam and there is only one way to stop the deranged, rabid dog muslims.
OLD GUY says
Iran’s leaders could be taken out, allowing the people of Iran to get their country back as a DEMOCRACY.