Peloni: Every action which has taken form since October 7 has been an extension of the Iranian regime, and now they have assaulted Israel directly. This challenge can not be left as being simply countered. It is time for Israel to seize the initiative, as they did during Operation Jonathan and Operation Opera, regardless of the what comments are made by the international community. Israel must take what steps are necessary to penalize the Iranian regime, and the general public of Israel should rise as one voice in support of their leadership to do exactly this.
Whatsapp April 14, 2024
The following was posted to the IDSF Whatsapp Channel by Gen. Amir Avivi:
Message from Brigadier General Res. Amir Avivi
The defensive ability that Israel demonstrated last night was impressive, as was the regional cooperation. However, without offensive activity on the part of Israel, we will find ourselves ‘normalizing’ the events of last night.
It is right to be proud of Israel’s display of defense last night, and the ability to mobilize a coalition of countries to block Iran’s attack. At the same time, it should be remembered that defensive capability is only a platform for the offensive.
After a night that included the firing of over 300 drones and missiles from Iran, launches from Yemen and dozens of rockets from Lebanon, Israel must make it clear to the international community that it must attack in order to show our strength to our enemies and so as not to normalize attacks from Iran.
For the sake of Israel’s future, the cabinet must show a united front, and the people of Israel must show a united front. They must support the Prime Minister to launch an offensive strike. Only such unity will make it possible to mobilize an international coalition to move forward with the objectives of targeting strategic sites in Iran which will keep the Iranian nuclear threat and the missile threat at bay.
Iran has threatened to attack any country that grants Israel air space in an attack. Missiles and drones don’t need permission. Moreover Israel now has access to outer space. Remember when IAF shot down Houthi projectiles pin space not long ago. And with lasers! When do we get to call them phasers, Scotty?
Mel Brooks. 1981. Jews in Space and Hitler on Ice
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZAZhtT-dUyo&si=1Nn2Vgs7zBX44eXi
https://youtu.be/ybuKQf9p5jg?si=_0qFyMEFNFkz0zVJ
@Seb one of our major advantages is the air force with its ability to deliver large bombs precisely. This is not possible with just missiles and drones.
@Bear Why not just use missiles and drones?
I will leave to the IDF and inner security cabinet to what they can when they can in a secure manner for the population and troops.
Too many details unknown for any pundit to say this is for sure the best plan.
Example maybe it is safer for Israel to take care of Hezis first because of the amount of planes needed maybe too many to fight on both fronts.
People with extensive military experience and know how are best for these type of decisions. When one needs back surgery one goes to a neurosurgeon and not to a plumber for the surgery.
@Peloni And the launching sites?
@Sebastien
They hit Israel with drones and missiles, so hit their drone and missile production/storage facilities. This might also impact the assistance which Iran is supplying Russia, making Russia less dependent on the Iranians.
Israel must divest itself from being an American puppet. The outrages simply continue to build.
@Peloni So, what targets would you suggest for an immediate response that would hurt the regime without alienating the Iranian masses? Perhaps the generals who commanded last night’s attack? They do seem most enraged when we take out their leaders as with this last assault. They did try and fail to take out the Knesset. Besides the fact that this general was the terrorist mastermind behind Oct. 7. Can’t really call it an escalation. It’s only an escalation if we let them get away with genocide. Trying versus failing to kill us all is a distinction without a difference. The left doesn’t get that. I once had a debate about it on a radio show. I wish the U.S. would take them out. We should have gone to war with Iran right after winning in Iraq and Afghanistan, if we – the Allies – had fought those wars and occupied those countries the way we did Europe and Japan in WWII. We actually let them have elections before the wars were over and all resistance crushed! And supposedly because Bush read some silly book about how “Democracy” will solve the totalitarian threat by Natan Scharansky. Crazy. Monty Python could have added to it’s bit about the Ministry of Silly Walks one about the Ministry of Silly Books. But, I digress.
@Bear
Yes, I think this is a good path, but it fails to include a response to last night’s assault which should not be delayed.
Indeed, the response to last night’s assault should not held til after Hamas and the Hezi’s are destroyed. That attack requires an immediate and significant response directed specifically at Iran. Otherwise the projected weakness and subjugation to American demands works against Israel, in the minds of the Mullahs, in the minds of the Americans, and in the minds of the Israelis as well. This outrage must be answered with a swift hard kick. Targeting their drone and missile production would be a far easier target than the nuke facilities, which can wait til after dealing with Hamas and Hezi’s, but some significant response is required at this time, as I see it.
@Peloni watching the round table discussion on Channel 14 with the similar question we are discussion. Efi Eitan (former General) a man whose views I value a lot came up with his list:
Finish Up Hamas
Destroy Hezis
Than at a time and place of Israel’s choosing attack Iran and implied in this was hitting the nuke facilities.
@Bear
Good list. You always were good with lists.
I still have my reservations about the gas though.
Bibi has made several speeches of solidarity with the Iranian people, so pushing them into an economic crisis to set off a revolution might not be the best way of proving that solidarity, and it could instead harden the people against Israel for imposing such suffering on the people as would come from destroying the gas fields (again, the Mullahs are flush with billions in cash currently so they would not be at a loss for funds any time soon). The relevance of this is related to the nature of the Iranian resistance against the Mullahs.
Relevantly, the Iranian people have risen in revolt many times in recent years, but they lack any sense of unity against the regime.
Indeed, the main reasons the Mullahs are still in power today is not because they are popular with anyone, which they aren’t, but that the opposition is split and fractured among many opposing groups. The multi fractional aspect of the Iranian opposition and the great distrust and hatred between these factions precisely what keeps them in their current state of capture by the Mullahs. Whereas this is an entirely Iranian problem from which to riddle a solution, I don’t think that this would change with Israel destroying the gas fields, and in fact, such an attack could lead the opposition towards choosing another anti Israel regime even if they do topple the Mullahs.
I find it quite telling that Israel has conducted significant acts of espionage within the Iranian state in recent years, but they have not gone after the economic lifeline which sustains both the people and the regime.
Israel must strike back hard. Coalition help from other countries in the area can be explored. Israel may emerge as the new leader in the ME, knocking down Iran’s bid for dominance. Possible…
@Peloni, Nuke facilities must destroyed or severely damaged whether by direct attack or EMP. Iran is dangerous now only via proxies to Israel. With Nukes Israel is in real danger of being destroyed.
Iranian Gas facilities should also be hit. Mullah’s are hated by about half the population. Give people more reason to be unhappy and they will take it out on the regime.
Gas facilities can be destroyed with a few long range missiles. No money means less ability to pay proxies and build weapons.
Current danger in short term is still Hezbollah. So maybe in order of things they should first be de-fanged. Then hit Iran.
@Bear
I worry that hitting the gas facilities could actually solidify control of the Mullahs rather than destabilize it, as the people would in no small measure be the beneficiaries of such a strike. The obvious counter to this is that the revenue from the gas industry supports the regime and stabilizes the society in the clutch of the Mullahs and in part endears it to Russia and China. But the current revenues which the Mullahs control, along with the ever increasing allotment which Washington secures for them, will not evaporate with the gas field devastation. So the power of the Mullahs will persist for some time, while the Iranian people are leveraged with a tidy weight upon their shoulders, and failing Israel’s ability to deal with the Iranian nuclear program entirely by her self, it is the Iranian people who are Israel’s greatest source of alliance against the Mullahs.
Regarding the use of wide cast EMP, I think that if this would scuttle the nuclear program, the risk and consequence to the Iranian people would be worth taking. I really can’t fathom that if such an option existed that it would not be acted upon. Notably the threat of the nuclear program is the real source of Iran’s power, this and the direct/indirect American support it has had over the past many decades which has now moved into hyperdrive, so to speak.
As to hitting as many nuclear facilities as can be reached, Iran needs only one bomb, so even a complete partial victory such as this should still be counted as a significant defeat.
Hence, if it were left to my own instincts, such as they are, I would not hit the Iranian oil fields, but would strike hard at the drone and missile factories. Also, if such a weapon as an EMP could reach the whole of Iran, above ground and below, I would employ it, all the while knowing that doing so will be a costly victory even if no lives are lost as a consequence. Naturally, failing such a weapon, I would support the scuttling of as many nuclear facilities as could practicably be compromised.
But I am curious of your own thoughts on this topic, and that from other commentators as well.
@Peloni make an assumption for a second, that Israel has EMP capabilities. If used this would likely destroy all Iranian computers and nuke facilities operating at the time of the attack and provide the least danger to Israeli fighters. This would disrupt life in Iran severely and likely cause the Mullah Regime to be highly vulnerable to overthrow or no longer be in charge.
Would you order it if you could? Or would you prefer to hit as many of the Nuke facilities as you could but would not be able to destroy all of them including Fodor as it is way under a mountain?
Would you just hit gas facilities and disrupt commercial life and put the regime in danger?
Yes, exactly!
Also, Israel must carefully focus their assault on the Iranian regime and not the public. The greatest asset which Israel has against the Mullahs is the gross disaffection between the Mullahs and the public which they oppress.