Israel Matzav

IAF taking precautions on reconnaissance flights

Due to improved weaponry in the hands of the terror organizations and their state supporters, the IAF is taking extra precautions in deploying reconnaissance flights over Lebanon and the Red Sea.

Under the new guidelines, only experienced and advanced pilots can fly the reconnaissance flights, which are conducted regularly over Lebanon. In addition, the flights can only be conducted when a senior officer is present in the IAF control room in Tel Aviv. Such flights are usually approved by the IDF Chief of General Staff.

“We need to consider the effect such flights can have, considering the changes in the region,” a senior officer said this week. “We understand that there is a short distance between a tactical mistake and a larger crisis.”

Israeli flights over Lebanon have been the source of continuous tension between Israel and Lebanon since the end of the Second Lebanon War five years ago. The flights are conducted by manned aircraft such as fighter jets as well as IAF unmanned aerial vehicles. In addition to Lebanon, Israeli aircraft also fly over the Red Sea where they track ships suspected of transferring weaponry to Hamas and Hezbollah.

Israel claims it needs to continue flying over Lebanon to track Hezbollah’s military buildup and particularly the flow of arms from Syria to the Iranian-backed guerrilla group. On Monday, as an example, Lebanese media said six Israeli planes flew over the Bekaa Valley, a known Hezbollah stronghold.

Israel’s concern is not just about the potential diplomatic fallout from such flights and how they could fuel already growing anti-Israel sentiment in the region, but also stems from concern that Hezbollah will receive advanced surface-to-air defense systems.

Hezbullah is getting those surface-to-air defense systems from weapons systems it has stored in Syria until now. I'm a little surprised we're not trying to destroy them. Or maybe we are through sabotage. Heh.

Labels: Hamas, Hezbullah, IAF, weapons shipment

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:20 AM