Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Saudi Arabia says it will intercept Israeli planes en route to Iran
timesofisrael.com ^

Posted on 08/08/2012 10:50:44 PM PDT by tsowellfan

Saudi Arabia will not permit Israeli aircraft to cross its territory on the way to strike Iran, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Thursday. The message was passed to Jerusalem via Obama administration officials during recent talks in Israel.

Senior Israeli officials reportedly see the move as a warning message from the US not to launch a unilateral strike, according to the paper .

Saudi Arabia is supplied with US military equipment and aircraft, and some estimate that if an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities were carried out in cooperation with the US, Saudi Arabia would permit an overflight.

But if Israel acts alone, Riyadh told the US it would intercept any Israeli plane that tried to cross its territory on the way to Iran.

If Israel were to strike Iran, the logistical obstacles are formidable, as the New York Times reported in February. It is estimated that Israel would have to use at least 100 planes to strike Iran’s four main nuclear sites, and travel over 1,000 miles over hostile territory to reach them.

Netanyahu reportedly prefers the US to lead, or at least help in a possible strike on Iran

The closing of Saudi Arabian airspace removes from Israel’s options one potential route to get to Iran, but others exist: north over Turkey, or straight east through Jordan and Iraq. However it is unclear whether those countries would allow Israel to use its airspace as well.

US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, in Israel last week, said that “all options” were on the table for dealing with a potential Iranian nuclear weapon, including the military option.

“If they continue and if they proceed with a nuclear weapon,” he said, “we have options that we are prepared to implement to ensure that that does not happen.”

The US, though, has expended much effort trying to hold Israel back from a unilateral strike, saying there is still time for diplomacy and sanctions to thwart Tehran’s nuclear plans.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bombbombbombbombiran; iran; iraniannukes; israel; saudiarabia; waronterror
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-84 next last
To: tsowellfan

Have to disable Syria first.


41 posted on 08/09/2012 6:34:48 AM PDT by Mike Darancette (Obamaid has to go.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tsowellfan

Saudi Arabia says it will intercept Israeli planes en route to Iran.........and refuel them.............


42 posted on 08/09/2012 6:44:48 AM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Southack

Saudi Arabia says it will intercept Israeli planes en route to Iran.........and wave enthusiastically as they go by......


43 posted on 08/09/2012 6:46:33 AM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: tsowellfan

I have said on this forum for years...use INDIA. There is a base right on the SW tip of India...Israel can fly its jets over the Persian Gulf and then into Iran over the mountains. It is perfect.


44 posted on 08/09/2012 6:47:54 AM PDT by montag813
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tsowellfan
Who's going to teach the Saudi pilots to say “Furball!”?
45 posted on 08/09/2012 6:50:53 AM PDT by 4yearlurker (No matter who you elect,the government eventually gets in.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Saudi Arabia says it will intercept Israeli planes en route to Iran.........and offer them baklava and strong coffee for their long journey.........


46 posted on 08/09/2012 6:51:02 AM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: muir_redwoods

Saudi Arabia says it will intercept Israeli planes en route to Iran.......and blow them kisses and hugs from afar..........


47 posted on 08/09/2012 6:52:49 AM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

So go through Iraq and Jordan. Neither of those countries has the capacity to intercept the Israelis.


48 posted on 08/09/2012 7:42:20 AM PDT by littleharbour
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: moonshot925

HaHaHaHaHaHa


49 posted on 08/09/2012 8:27:25 AM PDT by STD ([You must help] people in theÂ…feel so frustrated, so defeated, so lost, so futureless)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Dr.Zoidberg

> saudomites

Love it!


50 posted on 08/09/2012 8:46:14 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have IngSoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: tsowellfan

I used to read the Jerusalem Post every day. One day, the news was Syria had been bombed where a nuclear plant was being built. There was not one word about this possibility before it happened.

Based on what I know, I believe Israel will use the military airport in Greece. Netanyahu went there, think it was last year, plus I think I remember Israel had war games with Greece. Greece needs money really badly and “renting” that military base to Israel would bring in money.

Our military flew out of Greece when we attacked Afghanistan.


51 posted on 08/09/2012 9:03:15 AM PDT by Marcella (PREPARE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tsowellfan

I used to read the Jerusalem Post every day. One day, the news was Syria had been bombed where a nuclear plant was being built. There was not one word about this possibility before it happened.

Based on what I know, I believe Israel will use the military airport in Greece. Netanyahu went there, think it was last year, plus I think I remember Israel had war games with Greece. Greece needs money really badly and “renting” that military base to Israel would bring in money.

Our military flew out of Greece when we attacked Afghanistan.


52 posted on 08/09/2012 9:08:50 AM PDT by Marcella (PREPARE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

The reported Saudi denial of overflight permission to Israel may be just DISINFORMATION.


53 posted on 08/09/2012 9:14:15 AM PDT by 2harddrive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: tsowellfan
This statement issued by the house of Saud is for public consumption and in no way reflects their true inclination, which is to turn a blind eye and act as if nothing happened if and when the Israelis decide to act, lest something bad happen to any Saudi who gets the bright idea to actually try and hinder the Israeli's efforts.

Saudis are nothing if not cowardly, lazy, and incompetent. Not to mention they smell bad.

54 posted on 08/09/2012 10:30:47 AM PDT by semaj
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tsowellfan
Netanyahu reportedly prefers the US to lead, or at least help in a possible strike on Iran

It would be foolish to wait for the US these days, given we are not sure if Zero is going to be ousted. And, that being said, Zero is waiting after the election to get the oil tanking and start his steak dictatorship on a crisis bun. He is working for IRan, with Iranian Valerie Jarret calling the shots.

55 posted on 08/09/2012 11:01:05 AM PDT by JudgemAll (Democrats Fed. job-security Whorocracy & hate:hypocrites must be gay like us or be tested/crucified)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libh8er
What governments (especially authoritarian ones) say publicly and what they say privately through back-channels are two different things. This statement is no doubt for domestic consumption (i.e. to keep the Arab "street" happy). If Israeli attack planes do cross Saudi airspace, the Saudi's can either deny it or blame jamming.
56 posted on 08/09/2012 11:14:25 AM PDT by teflon9 (Political campaigns should follow Johnny Mercer's advice--Accentuate the positive.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: moonshot925

Yes, but they must be built, first, before they can be delivered. It will take about 2-yrs before the first Saudi jet rolls off the line and then it must be accepted by the US government (DD-250) and then signed over to the Saudis.


57 posted on 08/09/2012 1:03:36 PM PDT by Hulka
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: F15Eagle

Well, there’s that, as well as a whole lot of other miscellaneous Iraeli capability, and then who thinks Saudi pilots would bust their buttz to defend Iranian greaseballs?


58 posted on 08/09/2012 1:10:52 PM PDT by cherokee1 (skip the names---just kick the buttz)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: moonshot925
Saudi Arabia purchased 84 F-15SA fighter aircraft from the United States in December 2011.

Who's to say that once the Saudi F-15's recognize the IFF(Identification Friend/Foe) broadcast from the Israeli F-16's the Saudi pilots will find themselves unable to lock weapons on the Israeli jets.

59 posted on 08/09/2012 1:51:42 PM PDT by Tonytitan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

Comment #60 Removed by Moderator


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-84 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson