Israeli military 'stronger than ever' despite threat of 5-front missile war

This story has been out for one week, but has received very little attention. Go Israel!!!

Don


WorldTribune.com
Thursday, October 7, 2010

TEL AVIV — Israel's intelligence community has assessed that the Jewish state was equal to the task of confronting a five-front missile war.

Israeli military intelligence Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin said Israel could face missile salvos from the Gaza Strip, Iran, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank. Yadlin said the main target of the four adversaries would be Tel Aviv, regarded as Israel's economic capital, Middle East Newsline reported.

So far, Yadlin said, Israel's military has become stronger than ever. He said Israel's deterrence has also reached unprecedented levels despite the buildup in Iran, Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.

"I need to explain the probability for war and I can safely say that Israel's deterrence and the Israel Defense Forces's might are stronger than ever," Yadlin said. "We do not sit idly by, and we constantly check the situation to see whether this is the calm before the storm or a direct result of our actions."

"They are trying to increase their missile arrays in terms of range and accuracy," Yadlin said.

In an address on Oct. 4, Yadlin said Hamas, Hizbullah, Iran and Syria were amassing huge missile and rocket arsenals for any next war. But the general, scheduled to leave his post over the next few weeks, said missiles would not decide any war against Israel.

"Tens of thousands of missiles are weapons of terror, not the kind you can conquer land or win a war with," Yadlin said.

The intelligence chief said his main challenge has been monitoring both preparations and intent for a war against Israel. He said Iran, which has been developing nuclear weapons, has been the most dangerous threat.

"This is a radical regime which publicly negates Israel's right to exist, calls for its annihilation, denies the Holocaust and calls for acts of terror against it," Yadlin said.

The fifth front could come from the Palestinians in the West Bank. Yadlin said this war could be fought from Palestinian towns and cities.

"We are facing five fronts," Yadlin said. "And we follow each of them closely."

Another senior Israeli commander said the military has sought to increase the nation's readiness for missile attacks. Home Front Command chief Maj. Gen. Yair Golan said the campaign would include preparing civilians for biological, chemical and nuclear attacks.

"Israel has developed capabilities in detection and interception of non-conventional weapons," Golan said. "At this time we do not know if Hizbullah possesses non-conventional weapons, nor do we know about such intentions, but we are prepared for such a situation."


Story source here