MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

Israel is dead serious about eliminating the growing existential threat that has infected the former Persian ally and understands that a preemptive strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities and leadership is fast becoming the only option left on the table.  The IDF’s appointment of an “Iran Command” chief now leads the world to face one of two possibilities: Either plans are well under way for a unilateral strike against Iran’s nuclear program headed by a suicidal theocracy, or plans are well under way for a coordinated strike against Iran’s nuclear program headed by a suicidal theocracy, and Israel is letting the free world know that the time has now come to unite for the sake of peace …

By Amos Harel – “The decision by Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz to create a new army formation, to be known as the Depth Corps, followed recent recommendations issued by a team headed by Maj. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot. Eizenkot was tapped for the task last summer, after he completed his assignment as GOC Northern Command and began an educational leave of absence.

Maj. Gen. Shai Avital was named head of the new corps, which has already earned the somewhat overstated sobriquet ‘the Iran Command.’ Israel already has a command for Iran affairs – the Mossad, which since the last decade has been doing the heavy lifting in the campaign against the Iranian nuclear threat. If there is any unit within the IDF that deals with Iran specifically it is the Israel Air Force, the main branch that will be called upon in the event of an Israeli attack on the country’s nuclear facilities.

The new corps could, in the future, assist in mobilizing special forces in the Iranian context. More important, it will have the job of planning and leading operations in areas far beyond the borders, operations that are connected to the covert war against terror organizations (and, indirectly, against Iran ). One could imagine, for example, operations that have been ascribed to Israel, such as alleged IAF air strikes and special forces operations in Sudan, or the assassination of a Syrian general at his home in northern Syria.” Read more.

Israeli Navy completing secret 2 year submarine upgrade – “Israel will boost its long-arm strategic capabilities with the reinstatement of one of its Dolphin-class submarines that underwent an unprecedented structural overhaul. The submarine, one of three currently in the navy, arrived in Israel in 1999 and is the first to undergo the mid-life renovation. The Israeli submarines, which were purchased from Germany, have an expected lifespan of 30 years. The submarine was taken out of service almost two years ago but the renovation was a carefully guarded secret in the navy so Israel’s enemies would not know that one of its three submarines was out of commission.” Read more.

Israel hosts Italian Air Force for joint training exercise – “The Israeli and Italian Air Forces on Friday completed a two-week joint training exercise involving fighter jets from both nations. Three Israeli fighter jet squadrons (including F-16A, F-16C and F-15I aircraft) and two Italian fighter jet squadrons (including advanced Eurofighter and veteran Tornado aircraft) participated in the exercise. The exercise was conducted at the Uvda Airbase in the southern Negev Desert.” Read more.