Report: Saudis Threaten to Shoot Down Iran-Bound Israeli Planes

[Sootan]

KSA is worried, more worried about Iran than the Israelis are. They do not want to give Iran any reasons to act against them. I would venture to guess a lot of the new ME conflicts is Iran's way of taking pressure off of Iran.

I realized that, Hollis. Just commenting on the some opinions here that Israel would simply fight its way through KSA to get to Iran. That's a bit too unrealistic to me. If Israel even touched one of the holy sites, Iran would be the least of Israel's concern.

[Beholder]

I realized that, Hollis. Just commenting on the some opinions here that Israel would simply fight its way through KSA to get to Iran. That's a bit too unrealistic to me.

Here you are right,if IAF will think that SA route will lead to confrontation with SA air force they would not pick it.

If Israel even touched one of the holy sites, Iran would be the least of Israel's concern.

1.How it is relevant?Its not like IAF need to bomb SA holy cities.
2.And if IAF decide to force its way through SA,no heavy consequences will follow.SA will not seek nukes because it will not sit well with US and EU,same goes for supporting terrorists and SA not strong enough conventionally to present credible threat to Israel.SA have money,but to whom they will pay to create trouble for Israel?
Iran and SA never will be ally,none of them will throw away ME leader wannabe spot.Israel not threat enough to any of them to act as common enemy.
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I don't see situation when Israel attack SA,but i don't see situation when SA try to down israeli fighters,trespassing or not.

[G-AWZT]

And having the might of the KSA's oil money thrown against Israel is Iran's wet dream. You may think that IAF will wipe the desert with Saudi planes, but then say hello to Iran's nuke (and KSA nuke as well).

Sure say hello to an Iranian nuke that if it's launched against Israel means the obliteration of Iran. Of course all this is just hooey since the Saudis need Israel to beat the ugly off of Iran.

[highdiver_2000]

Too risky going through KSA. You never know if any of their pilots might go rogue and start shooting at the Israeli package.

[Beholder]

Too risky going through KSA. You never know if any of their pilots might go rogue and start shooting at the Israeli package.

If SA route is chosen there will be force escorting strike package.IMO
Also some kind of agreement seems possible.
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Anyway i don't see IAF counting on surprise strike,just as with operation Opera it will be assumed that Iran's AD will be alerted.With Iraq we were lucky.So "rogue pilot" etc. can't fail operation.IMO

[Slenke]

Don't think the Obama wants something to happen right before the election.

[Death's Head]

If SA route is chosen there will be force escorting strike package.IMO
Also some kind of agreement seems possible.
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Anyway i don't see IAF counting on surprise strike,just as with operation Opera it will be assumed that Iran's AD will be alerted.With Iraq we were lucky.So "rogue pilot" etc. can't fail operation.IMO

An agreement with Saudi Arabia?

Isreal might aswell tell the Iranians the time and date themselves. Also, the larger the strike package, the more refuellers you will need and the whole thing starts to become a logistical nightmare. So no matter how capable the Isreali Air force is, it will be running the risk of losing its biggest weopen.......that of surprise.

[crush6655]

Don't think the Obama wants something to happen right before the election.

???

What if he goes to the elections with Iran's nuclear program totally destroyed ?

I know war is unexpected, but if this happens it means he 'won' the republics over the biggest foreign problem the USA and the world have..

[Death's Head]

Don't think the Obama wants something to happen right before the election.

I think many americans see Iran as public enemy number one. America taking out Irans Nuclear facilities might just do for Obama what getting Bin Laden did, or am i being cynical??

[Beholder]

An agreement with Saudi Arabia?

Yes.

Isreal might aswell tell the Iranians the time and date themselves. Also, the larger the strike package, the more refuellers you will need and the whole thing starts to become a logistical nightmare. So no matter how capable the Isreali Air force is, it will be running the risk of losing its biggest weopen.......that of surprise.

1.Israel can't count on surprise.In past there were missions when Israel counted on it,like opening strikes in 67,or Entebe,or Tunis raid.Nowadays its nearly impossible to catch Iran by surprise,so while IAF may work on it,i highly doubt IAF actually count on it.
2.Ok,so its logistical nightmare.Still better then counting on surprise.One you can solve,other depends not on IAF.IMO

[IconOfEvi]

That event was practically scripted for the masses. AWACS controlled the engagement and the pilot got 2 easy kills.

Isn't that what AWACS are supposed to do though? Command & Control in addition to radar?

As for this...everyone's already said it - simple message for the KSA to send to Iran and its own restless masses as well...but we know what they're really doing.

Also why is everyone hating on the Saudi F-15 pilots? Their current skill level is a big question mark, so assuming they suck ass is just ignorant

???

What if he goes to the elections with Iran's nuclear program totally destroyed ?

I know war is unexpected, but if this happens it means he 'won' the republics over the biggest foreign problem the USA and the world have..

It would need ground troops + temporary occupation to ensure its totally destroyed. Not gonna happen.

As for our biggest foreign problem...not by a long shot. Our biggest one is across the Pacific

[Death's Head]

Yes.

Too many people in the loop, though i guess it suits Saudi not having a nuclear armed Iran. I just can not see Isreal trusting the words of the sheikh's.

So the three options for routes are Turkey, Jordan, and Saudi. In two of those, you need to go over Iraq at some point. Add in commond and control, and then you have to get back, then if im honest, i cant see it happening and i cant see it being succesful if it could be managed.

There is a fourth option...

Oman, but that's me playing armchair general lol!

[Death's Head]

Also why is everyone hating on the Saudi F-15 pilots? Their current skill level is a big question mark, so assuming they suck ass is just ignorant

Im sure they managed to shoot down a couple of Iranian F-4's during the Iran/Iraq war, and did they not manage shoot down a couple of Iraqi jets during Storm??

The F-15 is a sophisticated piece of kit, and with long range AAM's to engage from afar, then they have the advantage over Iranian fighters. Against Isreali pilots in F-15's and F-16s?

My money is on the isreali's.

[Beholder]

Too many people in the loop, though i guess it suits Saudi not having a nuclear armed Iran. I just can not see Isreal trusting the words of the sheikh's.

I didn't say "trust".IAF can prepare in case "change of heart" happens,but in general why not?Its convenient for both.If we are not talking about some agreement,then "on border" flight can be option offering plausible deniability for countries involved.

[Ought Six]

Israel declared that international talks with Iran on its nuclear programme had failed as it demanded a deadline of "just a few weeks" be handed down to Tehran to scrap its atomic build-up.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...-for-Iran.html


Is Israel laying the political groundwork to justify airstrikes on Iran's nuclear weapons and missile production infrastructure?