DEBKAfile, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security
US Navy, Air Force, ground, intelligence and special forces units based at home, in Europe and the Middle East, took part this week in a special exercise ordered by President Barack Obama to simulate reactions to a potential US-Israel strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, debkafile’s exclusive military and Washington sources report.
Sunday, April 22, the US also transferred a number of
advanced stealth F-22 fighter bombers, believed to be from
the 302nd Fighter Squadron 302, from the joint Base
Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska to the Al Dhafra Air Base
in the United Arab Emirates.
According to our sources, the F-22 jets will join the
F-15s of the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 104th
Fighter Wing which were transferred to the Al Udeid base a
month ago.
Their mission will be to destroy the Iranian air force
and air defense batteries so as to clear the way for US
and Israeli bombers to go into action against Iran’s
nuclear sites and the strategic infrastructure of its army
and Revolutionary Guards Corps.
This unprecedented US buildup of air might - supplementing
the aircraft on the decks of the USS Abraham Lincoln and
USS Enterprise, to be joined by a third carrier as soon as
the offensive gets underway – shows Tehran that the Obama
administration is serious about using military means as
extra pressure on Iran to give way in diplomatic
negotiations – both with the six powers and with the US
through clandestine channels.
Both moves took place as the United States and five
other world powers prepares for the second round of talks
with Iran scheduled for next month to rein in its nuclear
program.
The comment Israel’s chief of staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz
made to AP on April 26 about “other countries” having
readied their armed forces for a potential strike “to keep
Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons” referred to the
deployment of the F-22 stealth jets. He did not name the
other countries.
His comment was received in Washington as Israel’s
strongest message till now that it will not be alone in
attacking Iran but will have partners, presumably the US -
and possibly also Britain, France, German, Holland or
Italy.
At the end of the US exercise simulating Day One of this
attack, debkafile
reports that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey
submitted to the White House three conclusions:
1. Iran’s response to a military strike will be
“measured,” both to limit the damage to the regime and to
conserve military resources for a possible follow-up
attack;
2. The Iranians will go back to work on building a nuclear weapon within a short time;
3. The destruction of core elements of its nuclear program is expected to change Iran’s attitude in negotiations, making it less cocky and more submissive to international demands.