Israeli leaders know that time is running out to stop the Iranian Nuclear Missile program as Iran announced on November 12, 2008, it had test-fired a new medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a 2,000 km range that can easily hit targets in Israel. The missile, a two-stage solid-fuel system known as Sajil, was successfully launched and demonstrates a significant leap in Iran’s missile capabilities. If Iran is able to build a nuclear warhead for its intercontinental ballistic missile Israel is its announced target.
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Russia has already delivered 29 Tor-M1 missile systems under a $700 million deal with Iran in 2005. Esmaeil Kosari, deputy chairman of the parliamentary commission on national security told the Iranian news agency IRNA that Russia was delivering the S-300 air defense systems to Iraq, to strengthen its national defense. The missiles have a range of more than 90 miles (150km). The Russian S-300 is one of the most advanced multi-target anti-aircraft-missile systems in the world today and has a reported ability to track up to 100 enemy aircraft simultaneously while engaging up to 12 at the same time. It has a range of about 200 kilometers and can hit targets at altitudes of 27,000 meters creating difficulty for any attack of Iran. On December 21, 2008, according to a senior Iranian lawmaker, Russia started sending components for S-300 air defense systems to Iran, and is aiding them in developing nuclear warheads. Iraq is also claiming UFOs are frequently seen over Iraq suggesting they might be US or Israeli reconnaissance aircraft.

Israel has shown its willingness to destroy any nuclear threat. On June 7, 1981, Israeli Air Force (IAF) F-15 interceptors and F-16 fighter bombers destroyed the 70-megawatt uranium-powered Osirak reactor 18 miles south of Baghdad, saying they believed it was designed to make nuclear weapons to destroy Israel. It was the world’s first air strike against a nuclear plant. The Israeli Government explained, “The atomic bombs which that reactor was capable of producing whether from enriched uranium or from plutonium, would be of the Hiroshima size; thus a mortal danger to the people of Israel.” On September 6, 2008, Israeli commandos seized nuclear material of North Korean origin during a daring raid on a secret military site in Syria before Israel bombed it. Israel carried out the raid to demonstrate its determination to snuff out emerging nuclear projects. It is likely Israel will launch attacks on Iran with or without the help of other nations. The Russian S-300 anti-aircraft system creates a new threat to the IAF and Israel may decide it must attack before they become operational.
Israel has requested GBU-28 bunker-buster bombs that can penetrate six meters of reinforced concrete, refueling planes, and permission to use an air corridor through Iraq to Iran. President Bush prior to leaving office turned down the Israeli request for over flight. Attacks still could be carried out by overflying Saudi Arabia or Turkey without US permission and refueling the planes on the way back.
Israeli Air Force reservists who operate the Arrow and Patriot missile defense systems have recently begun spending one day a week on duty to sharpen their skills, amid fears that in a conflict with Iran, dozens of long-range missiles would be fired at Israel, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
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The US has agreed that an advanced U.S. radar system would be stationed in the Negev. The system would double to 2,000 kilometers the range of identification of missiles launched from the direction of Iran, and would be connected to an American early warning system. The Kremlin is furious about the Bush Administration plans to build an antimissile shield with the placement of interceptors in Poland and the Czech Republic to intercept Iranian ballistic missiles. Russia has strongly objected and President Barack Obama is seeking Russia’s help to end Iran’s nuclear threat by hinting a US missile shield could be discarded if Moscow deters Tehran from developing long-range arms. Israel has called up its reserve operators for one day of reserve duty each week to operate the Arrow and Patriot systems. IAF’s Air Defense Division Brig. Gen. Daniel Milo stated, service.”We are working hard to be ready for the Iranian threat by preparing for ballistic missile barrages, split warheads and other surprises and therefore we need to retain a high operational level by everyone, including reservists.”

Meanwhile elite Israeli attack force aircraft are rehearsing for a possible future attack probably on Isfahan nuclear facilities shown here. The French news L’Express reported Sunday that IAF fighter jets recently conducted a mid-air refueling drill above the Strait of Gibraltar in preparation for a possible attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Later this year, the IAF will hold an unprecedented and massive exercise with the US military to jointly test three different ballistic missile defense systems, including the Israeli-made Arrow and the American THAAD and Aegis, which will be brought specially to Israel for the exercise. The high-powered American X-Band radar, deployed in the Negev Desert in late 2008 as a farewell gift from former President George W. Bush, participated in the recent Arrow test and tracked the incoming target. It is capable of providing “several minutes” of warning, when a missile is launched from Iran. See video of IAF planes rehearse possible future attack on Iran nuclear facilities Jerusalem Posthttp://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/Page/VideoPlayer&cid=1194419829128&videoId=1239710851261