A new direction in Israel's war-between-wars campaign?

[Zarvan]

IDF recruits at the Military Intelligence language school
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Iran has not placed the blame for a series of explosions targeting its missile and nuclear program, but says it knows who is behind them.

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A series of mysterious “accidents” targeting Iran’s missile and nuclear program is a significant rise in tensions between Israel and the Islamic Republic, leading many to wonder if the IDF’s war-between-wars campaign has expanded to target key nuclear sites.

It started last Thursday, when an explosion was reported at a facility close to Iran’s Parchin military complex. While Tehran said the explosion was caused by a gas leak, satellite photos later showed that the blast took place at a nearby missile production facility.

It was followed by an explosion at a hospital in Tehran that killed 19 people. And on Friday, a large fire caused extensive damage to a building at the nuclear complex at Natanz, Iran’s largest uranium-enrichment facility. A previously unknown dissident group, saying that it was opposed to Iran’s security apparatus and calling itself the Homeland Cheetahs, claimed responsibility.

On Saturday, another fire was reported at a power station in the southern Iranian city of Ahvaz, close to the Iraqi border.
While the explosion at the hospital may not be linked to the mysterious “accidents” – Iran is known for its aging infrastructure – many are skeptical about the reasons behind the explosions at key nuclear sites.

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Israel has warned repeatedly about Iran’s nuclear ambitions as well as aspirations of regional hegemony. It has admitted to hundreds of airstrikes as part of its campaign of “war-between-wars” (known in Hebrew as Mabam) to prevent the transfer of advanced weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon and the entrenchment of its forces in Syria where they could easily act against Israel.

In late June, as part of the IDF’s new Momentum multi-year plan, the military opened the Strategy and Third-Circle Directorate, an entirely new position on the General Staff, which will focus principally on Israel’s fight against Iran.

Speaking at the ceremony marking the opening, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi warned that Iran has become the most dangerous country in the Middle East and that “it’s made significant progress with its nuclear program, but the nuclear [threat] is no longer the only threat. Iran also possesses conventional weapons.”

The new directorate, under the command of Brig.-Gen. Tal Kalman, is expected to bolster the IDF’s attack capabilities, including in the cybersphere.

But even before the directorate became operational, Israel was accused of launching a major cyberattack on Iran’s Shahid Rajaee Port, near the coastal city of Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz, causing chaos for days when the facility’s computer system crashed after being suddenly hit by hackers on May 9.

Troops from the IDF’s elite Military Intelligence Unit 8200, Military Intelligence’s Research Division and the IDF’s Operations Division, whose work and cooperation “resulted in a unique and impressive operational achievement,” were later awarded certificates of appreciation by head of Military Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Tamir Hayman.

While the military did not expand on which operation they were given awards for, Hayman said that the “mission was a first and significant step on a long path.”

Like Israel’s war-between-wars campaign, those who carry out cyberattacks usually do so far from the target and anonymously to allow for some plausible deniability to prevent an escalation.

Though it is unclear what sort of damage was actually caused to the various sites, Israel has been accused by Iran of being behind the attacks.
On Sunday, speaking to Army Radio, Defense Minister Benny Gantz denied that Israel was behind the incidents, saying “not every incident that transpires in Iran necessarily has something to do with us... All those systems are complex, they have very high safety constraints and I’m not sure they always know how to maintain them.”

Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi meanwhile hinted otherwise, saying at a Maariv conference that “we have a long-term policy over the course of many administrations not to allow Iran to have nuclear abilities. This [Iranian] regime with those abilities is an existential threat to Israel... We take actions that are better left unsaid.”

While the two former IDF chiefs of staff may not be on the same page, Israel knows that it should prepare for any cyber retaliation by Iran. Though the Islamic Republic has not responded to Israeli strikes on its infrastructure in Syria, it is no fool when it comes to cyber-warfare, having been accused by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of conducting daily cyberattacks against the Jewish state.

When Israel and Iran allegedly exchanged cyber-jabs two months ago, Yigal Unna, the director-general of Israel’s National Cyber Directorate, warned that a “cyber winter is coming even faster than I suspected.”

Tags Israel Iran iran air defense

https://m.jpost.com/israel-news/a-n...campaign-633943/amp?__twitter_impression=true

@Foxtrot Alpha

 

[masterchief_mirza]

On Sunday, speaking to Army Radio, Defense Minister Benny Gantz denied that Israel was behind the incidents, saying “not every incident that transpires in Iran necessarily has something to do with us... All those systems are complex, they have very high safety constraints and I’m not sure they always know how to maintain them.”

Point of information...nothing that the minister just said there constitutes a denial.

 

[Muhammed45]

IDF recruits at the Military Intelligence language school
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Iran has not placed the blame for a series of explosions targeting its missile and nuclear program, but says it knows who is behind them.

Advertisement

A series of mysterious “accidents” targeting Iran’s missile and nuclear program is a significant rise in tensions between Israel and the Islamic Republic, leading many to wonder if the IDF’s war-between-wars campaign has expanded to target key nuclear sites.

It started last Thursday, when an explosion was reported at a facility close to Iran’s Parchin military complex. While Tehran said the explosion was caused by a gas leak, satellite photos later showed that the blast took place at a nearby missile production facility.

It was followed by an explosion at a hospital in Tehran that killed 19 people. And on Friday, a large fire caused extensive damage to a building at the nuclear complex at Natanz, Iran’s largest uranium-enrichment facility. A previously unknown dissident group, saying that it was opposed to Iran’s security apparatus and calling itself the Homeland Cheetahs, claimed responsibility.

On Saturday, another fire was reported at a power station in the southern Iranian city of Ahvaz, close to the Iraqi border.
While the explosion at the hospital may not be linked to the mysterious “accidents” – Iran is known for its aging infrastructure – many are skeptical about the reasons behind the explosions at key nuclear sites.

Advertisement


Israel has warned repeatedly about Iran’s nuclear ambitions as well as aspirations of regional hegemony. It has admitted to hundreds of airstrikes as part of its campaign of “war-between-wars” (known in Hebrew as Mabam) to prevent the transfer of advanced weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon and the entrenchment of its forces in Syria where they could easily act against Israel.

In late June, as part of the IDF’s new Momentum multi-year plan, the military opened the Strategy and Third-Circle Directorate, an entirely new position on the General Staff, which will focus principally on Israel’s fight against Iran.

Speaking at the ceremony marking the opening, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi warned that Iran has become the most dangerous country in the Middle East and that “it’s made significant progress with its nuclear program, but the nuclear [threat] is no longer the only threat. Iran also possesses conventional weapons.”

The new directorate, under the command of Brig.-Gen. Tal Kalman, is expected to bolster the IDF’s attack capabilities, including in the cybersphere.

But even before the directorate became operational, Israel was accused of launching a major cyberattack on Iran’s Shahid Rajaee Port, near the coastal city of Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz, causing chaos for days when the facility’s computer system crashed after being suddenly hit by hackers on May 9.

Troops from the IDF’s elite Military Intelligence Unit 8200, Military Intelligence’s Research Division and the IDF’s Operations Division, whose work and cooperation “resulted in a unique and impressive operational achievement,” were later awarded certificates of appreciation by head of Military Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Tamir Hayman.

While the military did not expand on which operation they were given awards for, Hayman said that the “mission was a first and significant step on a long path.”

Like Israel’s war-between-wars campaign, those who carry out cyberattacks usually do so far from the target and anonymously to allow for some plausible deniability to prevent an escalation.

Though it is unclear what sort of damage was actually caused to the various sites, Israel has been accused by Iran of being behind the attacks.
On Sunday, speaking to Army Radio, Defense Minister Benny Gantz denied that Israel was behind the incidents, saying “not every incident that transpires in Iran necessarily has something to do with us... All those systems are complex, they have very high safety constraints and I’m not sure they always know how to maintain them.”

Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi meanwhile hinted otherwise, saying at a Maariv conference that “we have a long-term policy over the course of many administrations not to allow Iran to have nuclear abilities. This [Iranian] regime with those abilities is an existential threat to Israel... We take actions that are better left unsaid.”

While the two former IDF chiefs of staff may not be on the same page, Israel knows that it should prepare for any cyber retaliation by Iran. Though the Islamic Republic has not responded to Israeli strikes on its infrastructure in Syria, it is no fool when it comes to cyber-warfare, having been accused by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of conducting daily cyberattacks against the Jewish state.

When Israel and Iran allegedly exchanged cyber-jabs two months ago, Yigal Unna, the director-general of Israel’s National Cyber Directorate, warned that a “cyber winter is coming even faster than I suspected.”

Tags Israel Iran iran air defense

https://m.jpost.com/israel-news/a-n...campaign-633943/amp?__twitter_impression=true

@Foxtrot Alpha

Not every incident in Iran 'necessarily has something to do with us,' Israeli defense chief says after fire at Natanz nuclear site
5 Jul, 2020 15:01

FILE PHOTO: The atomic enrichment facilities inside the Natanz nuclear power plant in Iran. © Atomic Energy Organization of Iran / AFP

• 20

Follow RT on
Israel's defense minister has rebuffed speculation that Tel Aviv was behind the recent incident at an Iranian nuclear site. He reiterated, however, that Tehran's nuclear program is a threat to his country.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that he was "not sure" whether Iranians always follow safety protocols on their strategic sites.

Everyone can be suspicious of us all the time. But not every incident that happens in Iran necessarily has something to do with us.

Gantz reiterated, however, that "a nuclear Iran" is a threat to Israel. "We will do everything possible to prevent Iran from spreading terror and weapons, but I do not refer to any individual event," the minister said.

ALSO ON RT.COMIran says cause of mysterious incident that damaged nuclear facility ‘has been determined’
Tehran confirmed earlier this week that its Natanz nuclear enrichment facility was damaged in an unspecified incident. Imagery released by the country's Atomic Energy Organization shows the damaged facility, with burn marks and apparently blown-off gates.

Iranian media and some officials have floated the idea that the site was targeted by a cyberattack from Israel or the US. The country's authorities say they have already determined the true cause of the incident, promising to provide further details at a "convenient time."

The Natanz incident came amid a series of incidents at Iranian strategic sites, including a blast at a weapons development facility outside Tehran.

ALSO ON RT.COMTransformer explosion triggers fire at power plant in Iran (VIDEOS)
Arch rivals in the Middle East, Iran and Israel often accuse each other of subversive actions against one another.

Officials in Tel Aviv have been saying that the Islamic Republic is lying about its nuclear program and blamed it for developing atomic weapons in secret. No solid proof for such accusations, however, has been provided.

Iran, meanwhile, has been accusing Israel of spreading disinformation and feeding inaccurate intelligence reports to the global nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
@Zarvan i expected better from your side. Dont post Jerusalempost shit in Iranian defense forum or i have to inform mods. Its a Zionist propaganda Machine and you despite being a ELITE member of forum, bring their spreaded shit right in Iranian defense forum. Post it some where else, as if Iranians are following Jeruslampost as a credible Source.

@Mithridates @Dariush the Great @Philosopher dear Brothers, its when the Zionists wet their pants. Their media campaign went too far spreading lies, now their defense ministery wet their pants lmao.

 

[Philosopher]

@Mithridates @Dariush the Great @Philosopher dear Brothers, its when the Zionists wet their pants. Their media campaign went too far spreading lies, now their defense ministery wet his pants lmao.

Their media lost any credibility (if they had any to begin with) when they quoted a Kuwaiti paper notorious for their fake stories claiming the impossible notion that F-35s flew from Israel into Tehran.

The Israelis are desperate to get any points possible after Iran hacked into their water facilities in a humiliating manner. In return, from what I can see they (or their American friends) probably paid some internal saboteurs to plant explosives here and there. If this is the best they could do then it is very disappointing. Not only that, they have revealed their hands now. They should have kept their cards secret and not reveal them until absolutely necessary. All nations have agents in other hostile nations, but to risk them so easily is extremely foolish.

Gonen Segev: Israel ex-minister admits spying for Iran

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-46808797

 

[Zarvan]

Not every incident in Iran 'necessarily has something to do with us,' Israeli defense chief says after fire at Natanz nuclear site
5 Jul, 2020 15:01

FILE PHOTO: The atomic enrichment facilities inside the Natanz nuclear power plant in Iran. © Atomic Energy Organization of Iran / AFP

• 20

Follow RT on
Israel's defense minister has rebuffed speculation that Tel Aviv was behind the recent incident at an Iranian nuclear site. He reiterated, however, that Tehran's nuclear program is a threat to his country.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that he was "not sure" whether Iranians always follow safety protocols on their strategic sites.

Everyone can be suspicious of us all the time. But not every incident that happens in Iran necessarily has something to do with us.

Gantz reiterated, however, that "a nuclear Iran" is a threat to Israel. "We will do everything possible to prevent Iran from spreading terror and weapons, but I do not refer to any individual event," the minister said.

ALSO ON RT.COMIran says cause of mysterious incident that damaged nuclear facility ‘has been determined’
Tehran confirmed earlier this week that its Natanz nuclear enrichment facility was damaged in an unspecified incident. Imagery released by the country's Atomic Energy Organization shows the damaged facility, with burn marks and apparently blown-off gates.

Iranian media and some officials have floated the idea that the site was targeted by a cyberattack from Israel or the US. The country's authorities say they have already determined the true cause of the incident, promising to provide further details at a "convenient time."

The Natanz incident came amid a series of incidents at Iranian strategic sites, including a blast at a weapons development facility outside Tehran.

ALSO ON RT.COMTransformer explosion triggers fire at power plant in Iran (VIDEOS)
Arch rivals in the Middle East, Iran and Israel often accuse each other of subversive actions against one another.

Officials in Tel Aviv have been saying that the Islamic Republic is lying about its nuclear program and blamed it for developing atomic weapons in secret. No solid proof for such accusations, however, has been provided.

Iran, meanwhile, has been accusing Israel of spreading disinformation and feeding inaccurate intelligence reports to the global nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
@Zarvan i expected better from your side. Dont post Jerusalempost shit in Iranian defense forum or i have to inform mods. Its a Zionist propaganda Machine and you despite being a ELITE member of forum, bring their spreaded shit right in Iranian defense forum. Post it some where else, as if Iranians are following Jeruslampost as a credible Source.

@Mithridates @Dariush the Great @Philosopher dear Brothers, its when the Zionists wet their pants. Their media campaign went too far spreading lies, now their defense ministery wet their pants lmao.

Remaining in denial won't work. Off course their defence ministry is not going to admit it. I expected better from you !!!! You really thought they would have admitted it ???. Entire world now knows How USA and Israel jointly created Stuxnet to hit you few years back and now they are back with new improved cyber attacks and now their media is not even shying away from the fact that it is them.

 

[Muhammed45]

Remaining in denial won't work. Off course their defence ministry is not going to admit it. I expected better from you !!!! You really thought they would have admitted it ???. Entire world now knows How USA and Israel jointly created Stuxnet to hit you few years back and now they are back with new improved cyber attacks and now their media is not even shying away from the fact that it is them.

Come on buddy. You dont know that how stuxnet hit our centrifuges. The virus entered comouter Networks of Iranian nuclear facilities through IAEA's inspector computer. Maybe the guy wasnt aware but when he connected his comouter to network, the virus spread. It was a sabotage, Iran itself is a cyber power and no country on earth could send something like stuxnet to Iranian nuclear Networks without sabotage.

 

[Kastor]

Remaining in denial won't work. Off course their defence ministry is not going to admit it. I expected better from you !!!! You really thought they would have admitted it ???. Entire world now knows How USA and Israel jointly created Stuxnet to hit you few years back and now they are back with new improved cyber attacks and now their media is not even shying away from the fact that it is them.

I can't believe there are people denying this....there are satellite photos of Natanz and video of the powerplant on fire...but let's fault the source of the news.

 

[Dariush the Great]

Wait for it

 

[Shawnee]

Not every incident is an Israeli act. The power station incident is just a routine problem that has happened before.

Four months ago, many believed that Corona virus is made to hit Iran and China. Wrong statement calling for revenge.

As far as retaliation, few will retaliate immediately after an incident. They will need to be creative and timely for something like Abqaiq.

Finally, US will not mind another Abqaiq. More room for US shale oil.
.