Balkanization 101
Unlike the previous raids, the Syrian army sent a strong message to Israel last week by firing an S-200 missile that followed the Israeli warplane over the Lebanese air space. This could change the rules of engagement between Syria and Israel, according to Kevork Almassian.
Syria sends a strong message to Israel
Accident at Iranian Nuclear Plant Natanz
An “unspecified attack” has occurred at Iran’s nuclear facility at Natanz only one day after it began operating a group new of IR-9 centrifuges which separate uranium isotopes about fifty times more efficiently than Iran’s older centrifuges.
The incident is said to have been an acute electrical failure which can severely damage such delicate and finely-tuned technical equipment.
There seems little doubt that the incident was the result of a cyber attack in the thinking of Western analysts. Iran’s parliament also thinks it was as well. Iran’s PressTV reported that “The cause of the incident is under investigation.”
This morning (Sunday) at an address at Mt. Herzl National Cemetery, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi seemed to hint that the source was Israel. He said “The Israel Defense Forces’ actions throughout the Middle East are not hidden from our enemies’ eyes. They are watching us, seeing our capabilities and carefully considering their next steps.” He added, “Thanks to sophisticated operational activity, this past year has been one of the most secure Israel’s citizens have ever known. We will continue to act with might and with judgment, with determination and responsibility, to ensure the security of the state of Israel.” <>World Israel News
Israel not bound by any Iranian Deal – Prime Minister Netanyahu
April 7th. Holocaust Remembrance Day. In a speech from Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, PM Benjamin Netanyahu leveled a warning at the Biden administration and any others who may be seeking to re-enter the Iran nuclear deal. “We are not bound in any way to an agreement with Iran that paves the way for nuclear weapons. We are obligated to only one thing: to prevent anyone who seeks to destroy us from carrying out their plot.”
Speaking from Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed a warning at the Biden administration and others seeking to reenter the Iran deal.” The U.S. has reportedly assured consultation with Israel before entering the deal, but the rapidity of the discussions raises the question as to whether Israel has had any input. The original agreement was signed by former President Obama but was abandoned by former President Trump in 2018. <>World Israel News
Iranian Ship Damaged by Mines in the Red Sea
The Vienna-based JCPOA talks between the U.S. and Iran have resumed; Israel is disturbed and wary of the possible results and is saying so. Its claim is that of PM Netanyahu: “A return to the JCPOA is not going to bring security and stability to the Middle East” (Wall St. Journal).
An example of its non-effectiveness was illustrated by an Israeli response that same day far to the southeast – in the Red Sea between Yemen and Djibouti – where a cargo ship belonging to Iran was hit by limpet mines attached to its hull, apparently by Israel.
The Iranian ship Saviz is a cargo ship being used as a sea base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and has been anchored in the same location for many months. It tracks the maritime traffic of hostile nations for the Iranian regime.
Presumably Israel attached the explosives to the ship’s hull on the very day the US-Iran nuclear talks resumed in order to underline Israel’s vigilance and determination. It was another event in the warfare at sea that has been underway between Israel and Iran for months.
Israel’s objection to the JCPOA is that it does not stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but simply delays that until 2030.
PM Netanyahu had warned the world that “We will always know how to defend ourselves by ourselves from those who seek to kill us.”
The Saviz incident was only the latest in a tit-for-tat exchange of blows between the Iranians and Israel. In March, Iran attacked a cargo ship owned by an Israeli businessman Udi Angel, transiting the Arabian Sea. Another incident around the same time was the contamination of all the Mediterranean beaches of Israel by oil spilled (perhaps intentionally) from an Iranian vessel smuggling oil to Syria. <>JPost
Israel Admits Attacking Iran’s Nuclear Programme, As Cyber-Attack Derails Iranian Nuke Plant
Israel acknowledged that it was behind a cyberattack on Iran’s main nuclear facility on April 11. The cyberattack took place hours after officials at the Natanz reactor restarted spinning advanced centrifuges. These centrifuges could speed up the production of enriched uranium. Watch the video to know more.
Iran reports accident at main nuclear facility
Iran has reported an accident at its main nuclear facility at Natanz.
Tehran’s Atomic Agency says it affected the site’s electrical distribution grid.
Power was out across the facility’s above-ground workshops and underground enrichment halls.
On Saturday, President Hassan Rouhani said Tehran had launched new advanced enrichment centrifuges at the site.
This is after several centrifuges were damaged in a fire last year – an incident Tehran called an ‘act of sabotage’.
And Iran is high on the agenda as the U-S Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin visits Israel.
Tensions in the region have been escalating in recent weeks.
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