Israel Updating Plans To Attack Iran, Ready To 'Act Independently'

Authored by Dave DeCamp via AntiWar.com,

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz told Fox News in an interview published Friday that the Israeli military is updating its plans to strike Iran’s nuclear program and is prepared to act independently.

Gantz falsely portrayed Iran’s recent steps to advance its civilian nuclear program as the Islamic Republic racing to develop a bomb, something he said Israel would stop. "If the world stops them before, it’s very much good. But if not, we must stand independently and we must defend ourselves by ourselves," he said.

Gantz cited nuclear activity that Iran is willing to quickly reverse if the US lifts sanctions and returns to the nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA. But Gantz, like most Israeli officials, is opposed to a revival of the agreement.

Israeli officials have been making veiled threats about attacking Iran if President Biden rejoins the JCPOA. Other incidents in the region that are being blamed on Iran are causing some to fear that Israel might be preparing an attack sooner rather than later.

Without providing evidence for the claim, Israel blamed Iran for an explosion on an Israeli-owned cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman that happened last week. No crew members were hurt, and the ship was back at sea a few days after the incident. When asked about possible retaliation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was "striking at" Iran throughout the region.

"This is a target map. Each one of them has been checked legally, operationally, intelligence-wise and we are ready to fight," Gantz told the FOX correspondent while handing him a classified map.

On Wednesday, Israel blamed Iran for another incident in the region. Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel claimed Iran was responsible for a large oil spill that hit Israel last month.

Surprisingly, Israeli military and intelligence officials doubted Gamliel’s claim, as did other officials in the Environmental Protection Ministry.

Regardless of whether Iran was responsible or not, Israel could be planning a strike against the Islamic Republic over the two incidents. Sources told Business Insider that the Biden administration and its European allies are fearing that Israel is planning a "substantial" attack on Iran.

Seemorerocks

Monday 8 March 2021