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IRAN ON WAR ALERT OVER "US AND ISRAELI CONCENTRATIONS" IN AZERBAIJAN
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
June 23, 2010, 1:23 PM (GMT+02:00)
In a rare move, Iran has declared a state of war on its northwestern
border, debkafile's military and Iranian sources report. Iranian
Revolutionary Guards Corps men and equipment units are being massed in
the Caspian Sea region against what Tehran claims are US and Israeli
forces concentrated on army and air bases in Azerbaijan ready to
strike Iran's nuclear facilities.
The announcement came on Tuesday, June 22 from Brig.-Gen Mehdi Moini
of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), commander of the forces tasked
with "repelling" this American-Israeli offensive. He said: "The
mobilization is due to the presence of American and Israeli forces
on the western border," adding, "Reinforcements are being dispatched
to WestAzerbaijan Province because some western countries are fueling
ethnic conflicts to destabilize the situation in the region."
In the past, Iranian officials have spoken of US and Israel attacks in
general terms. debkafile's Iranian sources note that this is the first
time that a specific location was mentioned and large reinforcements
dispatched to give the threat substance.
Other Iranian sources report that in the last few days, Israel
has secretly transferred a large number of bomber jets to bases in
Azerbaijan, via Georgia, and that American special forces are also
concentrated in Azerbaijan in preparation for a strike.
No comment has come from Azerbaijan about any of these reports.
Iranian Azerbaijan, the destination of the Revolutionary Guards forces
reinforcements, borders on Turkey, Iraq and Armenia. Witnesses say long
IRGC convoys of tanks, artillery, anti-aircraft units and infantry
are seen heading up the main highways to Azerbaijan and then further
north to the Caspian Sea.
On Tuesday, June 22, Dr. Uzi Arad, head of Israel's National Security
Council and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's closest adviser,
said "The latest round of UN Security Council sanctions on Iran is
inadequate for thwarting its nuclear progress. A preemptive military
strike might eventually be necessary."
debkafile's intelligence and Iranian sources point to three other
developments as setting off Iran's war alert: 1. A certain (limited)
reinforcement of American and Israeli forces has taken place in
Azerbaijan. Neither Washington nor Jerusalem has ever acknowledged a
military presence in this country that borders on Iran, but Western
intelligence sources say that both keep a wary eye on the goings-on
inside Iran from electronic surveillance bases in that country.
2. Iran feels moved to respond to certain US steps: The arrival of
the USS Harry S. Truman Strike Group in the Persian Gulf and the
Arabian Sea and its war games with France and Israel, which included
live-fire bombing practices against targets in Iran.
3. The execution of Abdolmalek Rigi, head of the Sunni Baluchi
rebel organization (including the Iranian Baluchis), on June 20 was
intended as a deterrent for Iran's other minorities. Instead, they
are more restive than ever. Several Azeri breakaway movements operate
in Iranian Azerbaijan in combination with their brethren across the
border. Tehran decided a substantial buildup in the province would
serve as a timely measure against possible upheavals.
From: A. Papazian
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
June 23, 2010, 1:23 PM (GMT+02:00)
In a rare move, Iran has declared a state of war on its northwestern
border, debkafile's military and Iranian sources report. Iranian
Revolutionary Guards Corps men and equipment units are being massed in
the Caspian Sea region against what Tehran claims are US and Israeli
forces concentrated on army and air bases in Azerbaijan ready to
strike Iran's nuclear facilities.
The announcement came on Tuesday, June 22 from Brig.-Gen Mehdi Moini
of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), commander of the forces tasked
with "repelling" this American-Israeli offensive. He said: "The
mobilization is due to the presence of American and Israeli forces
on the western border," adding, "Reinforcements are being dispatched
to WestAzerbaijan Province because some western countries are fueling
ethnic conflicts to destabilize the situation in the region."
In the past, Iranian officials have spoken of US and Israel attacks in
general terms. debkafile's Iranian sources note that this is the first
time that a specific location was mentioned and large reinforcements
dispatched to give the threat substance.
Other Iranian sources report that in the last few days, Israel
has secretly transferred a large number of bomber jets to bases in
Azerbaijan, via Georgia, and that American special forces are also
concentrated in Azerbaijan in preparation for a strike.
No comment has come from Azerbaijan about any of these reports.
Iranian Azerbaijan, the destination of the Revolutionary Guards forces
reinforcements, borders on Turkey, Iraq and Armenia. Witnesses say long
IRGC convoys of tanks, artillery, anti-aircraft units and infantry
are seen heading up the main highways to Azerbaijan and then further
north to the Caspian Sea.
On Tuesday, June 22, Dr. Uzi Arad, head of Israel's National Security
Council and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's closest adviser,
said "The latest round of UN Security Council sanctions on Iran is
inadequate for thwarting its nuclear progress. A preemptive military
strike might eventually be necessary."
debkafile's intelligence and Iranian sources point to three other
developments as setting off Iran's war alert: 1. A certain (limited)
reinforcement of American and Israeli forces has taken place in
Azerbaijan. Neither Washington nor Jerusalem has ever acknowledged a
military presence in this country that borders on Iran, but Western
intelligence sources say that both keep a wary eye on the goings-on
inside Iran from electronic surveillance bases in that country.
2. Iran feels moved to respond to certain US steps: The arrival of
the USS Harry S. Truman Strike Group in the Persian Gulf and the
Arabian Sea and its war games with France and Israel, which included
live-fire bombing practices against targets in Iran.
3. The execution of Abdolmalek Rigi, head of the Sunni Baluchi
rebel organization (including the Iranian Baluchis), on June 20 was
intended as a deterrent for Iran's other minorities. Instead, they
are more restive than ever. Several Azeri breakaway movements operate
in Iranian Azerbaijan in combination with their brethren across the
border. Tehran decided a substantial buildup in the province would
serve as a timely measure against possible upheavals.
From: A. Papazian