ISRAEL already has plans in place for a devastating reply to Iran’s blitz – they just need to press the button, a former Mossad spy has said.
It comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed Tehran “will pay” for its missile attack yesterday.
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Avner Avraham said Israel is now set to do “huge damage you will see all over the world” – with a spectacular attack on a similar scale to the Islamic Republic’s 180-strong barrage on Tuesday night.
He is sure the US would take part in the attack in some form, whether through providing intelligence, logistical support, or weapons.
But Avraham thinks the US could even strike Iran directly with Israel as President Joe Biden and Democrats get closer to the November 5 election.
He said: “The USA government is on our side and I’m sure that they will take part in the attack. Maybe separately. Maybe we will attack Iran together.
“Maybe it’s important to show that Biden is strong and they want to show that he took part and attack Iran.”
Unlike April’s targeted response, Avraham said Israel would now seek to do “huge damage” in retaliation.
“This is again a huge failure, a huge failure for Iran. They are sending missiles, but we have systems that can ignore them, and they cannot attack us.”
Mossad, Avraham said, would also have long-prepared its surprise plans and would now begin to execute them.
He said: “Someone just need to press the button.”
After Iran’s Tuesday barrage, the US said it had “ironclad” support for Israel and would continue to stand side-by-side.
National Security adviser Jake Sullivan said: “The attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective, and this is a testament to Israeli military capability and the US military.”
US jets led a coalition of countries that defended Israel from the strikes, intercepting and shooting down some missiles before they could even get to Israel.
There is some talk that Israel could strike Iran’s oil refineries to try and cripple the country.
Trump pal and Republican senator Lindsey Graham said Iran’s strikes “should be the breaking point and I would urge the Biden Administration to coordinate an overwhelming response with Israel, starting with Iran’s ability to refine oil.
He said: “These oil refineries need to be hit and hit hard because that is the source of cash for the regime to perpetrate their terror.”
Israel hit a Houthi-controlled oil tank in Yemen on Sunday causing it to erupt in a massive explosion.
US forces include fighter jets, bombers and Navy destroyers equipped with Aegis defence systems that can shoot down missiles.
It comes as…
The US said it is not providing intelligence for Israel’s invasion of Lebanon.
It comes as a Middle-Eastern expert said that Israel has “more options on the table this time around” and could focus on “several targets” in Iran.
Kasra Arabi, Director of IRGC Research at United Against Nuclear Iran told The Sun there were three main areas which the IDF is likely to strike.
He said: “The first is targeting the Iranian regime. Military intelligence assets in Iran.
“Those assets that played a key role in orchestrating this attack.
“Those assets that have played a key role in orchestrating terrorist attacks more broadly across the region, across the world. So IRGC assets are one target.”
Mr Arabi added: “The regime’s oil infrastructure is another prime target.
“The oil infrastructure, by the way, is controlled by the IRGC. These aren’t civilian controlled oil refineries.
I was sitting eating a pizza – moments later I was running for my life
by Nick Parker, Foreign Editor, in northern Israel
I’D just ordered a coffee in a roadside cafe on my way back from Israel’s northern war zone when the alert flashed up on my phone.
It read: “Iran is preparing an imminent ballistic missile attack against Israel. Please take cover as soon as possible.”
I was sitting in a pizza restaurant in a much-rocketed area north of the coastal port of Haifa when the warning pinged in my pocket.
Moments later I saw other diners picking up their phones as warnings reached them but was impressed by their stoicism as they carried on munching on their margaritas.
These were people who have endured daily rocket attacks from Hezbollah for nearly a year but even they began to shuffle in their seats as more warnings appeared on their mobile security apps.
This was clearly something much bigger than the daily Hezbollah barrage from the north.
And moments later we were jammed in the door as it was confirmed that more than a hundred Iranian ballistic missiles flying at 14 times the speed of sound were on their way.
This was confirmed to be only the first of several waves of attacks heading out way.
We ran across the road into a concrete shelter where English speakers told me to expect to be stuck there for some time as I tapped out my story using the glow of my laptop screen.
Then moments later the first booms split the air high above as Iron Dome interceptors engaged the incoming rockets.
I – probably very foolishly – took a sneak peek into the sky outside and watched trails of red rockets racing up to meet the missiles in a spectacular but potentially deadly firework display.
But scary spectaculars like this have become a way of life for the people of northern Israel – who clearly trust the boffins whose rocket wizardry had saved their lives yet again.
It remained unclear whether Iran’s terror masters had inflicted death or destruction as they attempted to decimate their hated enemy.
And this may be just the first of many terrifying tests for the people of Israel, their enemies and the millions caught in the crossfire as the threat of a catastrophic war looms.
“Targeting the oil refineries would have a significant hit for the regime. It would be a significant setback in the regime’s access to cash. So that is a option on the table.”
He continued: “The final option at the moment that, I believe, is on the table is targeted high value assassinations against the IRGC senior leadership command, assassinations that are very surgical that are very precise.
“That take out the particular terrorist individual.
“We’ve seen Israel do this in relation to Ismail Haniyeh, for example, the Hamas leader was visiting Tehran and was under IRGC protection.
“Yet Israel managed to kill Ismail Haniyeh in the heart of Tehran.
Mr Arabi also said Iran’s nuclear facilities were another legitimate target.
He described Iran as a “violent Islamist extremist” regime and “deeply ideological” centred on the “eradication” of Israel.
Mr Arabi said: “The regime in Iran should not be allowed to have nuclear weapons.
“This would be an existential threat to Israel, but it would also be an existential threat to the people of Iran who have taken to the streets en masse, and have sought to overthrow the Islamic Republic.”
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