'Our friends the Saudis' threaten to shoot down Israeli jets attacking Iran
'Our friends the Saudis' have threatened to shoot down Israel jets attacking Iran (Hat Tip: MFS - The Other News).Saudi Arabia has threatened to shoot down any Israeli aircraft over its airspace en route to or from Iran, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Thursday.That last statistic is kind of meaningless: Israel only sent eight planes to bomb Osirak, there was only one site to bomb, and Iraq is much closer than Iran.
The message was passed via senior U.S. officials during recent talks in Jerusalem.
Both Israel and the United States have said they may consider a military strike to put a stop to Iran's disputed uranium enrichment program.
...
The paper said the route over Saudi Arabia was one of four air routes identified by Israel's intelligence for a possible attack on Iran.
Saudi Arabia is equipped with U.S.-made fighter jets and sophisticated defense systems, Israeli media reported.
Israel would have to use at least 100 aircraft should it decide to launch a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, the New York Times said in a report in February. The planes would have to fly some 1,600 kilometers over hostile territory.
Israeli bombers flew through Saudi airspace in July 1981 in an operation to destroy Iraq's Osirak nuclear power station. No aircraft were shot down during that air raid.
On the other hand, this story assumes that the Saudis have the skill set to detect and shoot down the Israeli aircraft, and I would not take that to be a sure thing. It also assumes that the Saudis aren't saying this just for show. Given that in the past, the Saudis have sometimes said they would allow Israel an air corridor to strike Iran (and then disavowed it), I have to wonder whether the Saudis are telling the truth.
I would suggest that we wait and see what the Saudis actually do. They have as much interest as Israel does in seeing Iran stopped.
Labels: Iranian nuclear threat, Israeli attack on Iran, our friends the Saudis
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:29 PM
4 Comments:
Keep in mind that the Saudis are deathly afraid of Iran - but they cannot let themselves be seen as anything other than strongly anti-Zionist Entity. Soooo, they make a big deal about shooting down the JOOOOOS...only to have the radars shut off for maintenance or some "bug" when the time comes for Iran to take it in the neck. Then the Saudis will denounce the despicable Zionist Imperialists, and all will be well in the world (except for certain smouldering craters in Iran).
Hi Carl,
If the Saudis really said that it is just for show (i.e. regional politics).
I agree with you that they have interests in seeing Iran stopped (although they can be rather ambiguous when it comes to the Persians).
Cheers
When Iran bombs Saudi Arabia I will be laughing.
The Saudis are the most cringing cowards! A few shiites on their borders and they cave to Iran! Glad to know their true colours!
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