Perilous Times
From The Sunday Times
May 30, 2010
Israel stations three nuclear missile subs off Iran
Uzi Mahnaimi in Tel Aviv
Three German-built Israeli submarines equipped with nuclear cruise
missiles are to be deployed in the Gulf near the Iranian coastline.
The first has been sent in response to Israeli fears that ballistic
missiles developed by Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, a political and
military organisation in Lebanon, could hit sites in Israel, including
air bases and missile launchers.
The submarines of Flotilla 7 — Dolphin, Tekuma and Leviathan — have
visited the Gulf before. But the decision has now been taken to ensure
a permanent presence of at least one of the vessels.
The flotilla’s commander, identified only as “Colonel O”, told an
Israeli newspaper: “We are an underwater assault force. We’re operating
deep and far, very far, from our borders.”
Each of the submarines has a crew of 35 to 50, commanded by a colonel
capable of launching a nuclear cruise missile.
The vessels can remain at sea for about 50 days and stay submerged up
to 1,150ft below the surface for at least a week. Some of the cruise
missiles are equipped with the most advanced nuclear warheads in the
Israeli arsenal.
The deployment is designed to act as a deterrent, gather intelligence
and potentially to land Mossad agents. “We’re a solid base for
collecting sensitive information, as we can stay for a long time in one
place,” said a flotilla officer.
The submarines could be used if Iran continues its programme to produce
a nuclear bomb. “The 1,500km range of the submarines’ cruise missiles
can reach any target in Iran,” said a navy officer.
Apparently responding to the Israeli activity, an Iranian admiral said:
“Anyone who wishes to do an evil act in the Persian Gulf will receive a
forceful response from us.”
Israel’s urgent need to deter the Iran-Syria-Hezbollah alliance was
demonstrated last month. Ehud Barak, the defence minister, was said to
have shown President Barack Obama classified satellite images of a
convoy of ballistic missiles leaving Syria on the way to Hezbollah in
Lebanon.
Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, will emphasise the danger to
Obama in Washington this week.
Tel Aviv, Israel’s business and defence centre, remains the most
threatened city in the world, said one expert. “There are more missiles
per square foot targeting Tel Aviv than any other city,” he said.