Israel Bombs Iranian Missile Factory

Located in Khartoum, Sudan

10-27-12

(A-O Newswire) -- The nation of Sudan this week accused Israel of destroying a munitions plant in Khartoum. The Sudanese government has complained to the UN Security Council after its factory blew up on Wednesday (10/24). Meanwhile, the Israeli government has remained silent on the issue but Israeli commentators have noted that Sudan had been supplying munitions to Hamas and Hezbollah.

The Yarmouk facility, located inside the Khartoum metropolitan area is located 1,000 miles away from Israel, but there are reports that four Israeli fighter-bombers (most likely F-15i jets) struck the facility shortly after midnight, thus sending a warning to Iran that Israel is capable of carrying out long-range airstrikes and as such are capable of reaching Iranian nuclear targets in Iran itself. Debka.com reports the factory was producing Shehab medium-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear payloads.

The Iranian missile factory in Khartoum was intended to be a back-up safe haven for a reserve of Shehab missiles for follow up use in the event that war broke up between Iran and Israel and or the USA. The Iranians figured the Sudan location would remain untouched by Israel or the USA. They didn't count on Israel taking action against the facility prior to any attacks on Iranian soil.

Officials in Sudan wouldn't comment on the Iranian missile angle to the story but they admitted that the facility had been leveled to the ground by the explosions and subsequent fires. Sudan leaders did warn Israel that Sudan reserved the right to retaliate at a date and time of its own choosing.

The significance of the attack is that it demonstrates to Iran that its planes could fly 1,800 to 1,900 kilometers, conduct a successful bombing attack and return to base with efficient aerial refueling capabilities. It should be noted that Iran's Fordo facilities inside the underground mountain complex are only 1,600 kilometers. The Sudan strike thus is a visible demonstration to Iranian leaders that Israeli war planes are indeed capable of carrying out successful airstrikes as far as the Fordo complex, if not farther.

The Sudan strike also has damaged Iranian abilities to conduct extended retaliation using Shehab missiles since the entire arsenal was destroyed by the strike. Iran's inventory of Shehab missiles is now severely limited since a mysterious accident destroyed an underground Shehab missile factory in Iran just a couple of years ago. That incident destroyed all but about 2 dozen Shehab missiles. Since the blast, Iran was forced to rebuild the factory which is now only becoming operational for production of Shehab missiles.

Some military strategists interpret this incident as being a preliminary action, prior to an actual Israeli military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.

For more on this story, check out the following news article links - LINK HERE. Additional details from The Guardian - LINK HERE.

For a Debka.com report, LINK HERE.

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