Sea Battle Fear as Iran Sends Flotilla To Gaza

Uh-oh....

Are things about to escalate into full blown war? Will this be the final straw between Israel and Iran that sends them (and perhaps the greater world at large) into a possible WWIII scenario?

This is something to pay close attention to IMHO...

President Ahmadinejad raised the spectre of a sea battle as he warned the ships would be carrying an escort of “volunteer marines” ready to “teach Israelis a lesson”.

Ali Shirazi, the Revolutionary Guard’s spokesman for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said it was “Iran’s duty to defend the innocent people of Gaza”. Foreign Secretary William Hague described the intervention as “unhelpful”.

The blockade has been in place since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2006 despite inter­national concern about a humanitarian crisis.

Full Article:

www.express.co.uk...

I don't foresee this as starting WW3.
Israel has been involved with many
local wars with it's neighbors since
WW2 and has yet to produce anything
other than local skirmishes. However,
if nukes get involved, then it's a whole
different ball game.

i have no doubt thes two will get it on. who throws the first punch is anyones guess. with this comes the rest of the world factor a kind of who sides with who and who wants none of it. one things for sure this could get scary and fast. my moneys on iran what can i say im a sucker for the underdogg.

reply to post by DimensionalDetective


If you consider this blockade illegal, which I do.
Then the Israelis should be looked upon as pirates.

Did you see what the Russians just did to the Somalai Pirates>

does anyone have any idea when these forces will meet?

Looks like this is gaining momentum---100,000 Iranians volunteered to sail on this mission!

This is definitely developing into a very noteworthy story to keep an eye on...

The Iranian Red Crescent has equipped and loaded two ships with aid, and is waiting for permission from the Iranian Foreign Ministry to set sail for Gaza, AFP reported on Sunday. A third ship is planned for next week.

An Iranian Red Crescent official, Mojtaba Majd, was quoted as saying that over 100,000 Iranians have volunteered to sail on the ships. He said that the problems involved may prevent Iran from sending volunteers, however "the important issue is that the people of Gaza know that more than 100,000 Iranians are ready to come to their help."

Continued...

www.jpost.com...

reply to post by DimensionalDetective

Here's more from jpost

"One of the ships, which is carrying food and medicine is expected to leave this week. The Red Crescent has promised to send two ships by Friday and a third next week. A plane is also planned to fly to Egypt carrying 30 tons of medical aid. The Iranian decision to send ships to Gaza, follows the international outrage over the Israeli commando raid on the Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara, which was part of a flotilla seeking to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. An Iranian Red Crescent ship was sent to Gaza during 'Operation Cast Lead' but was turned back by Israeli warships."

does anyone have any idea when these forces will meet?

does anyone have any idea when these forces will meet?

Egypt will open its border crossing at Rafah so it looks like the blockade is moot. I wonder why Iran doesn't just use the Rafah crossing for all their aid?

Below is from ABC.net

"The Arab world's top diplomat has added his voice to international calls for Israel to lift its three-year isolation of the Gaza Strip.

Arab League head Amr Moussa is the first senior Arab official to visit Gaza since Hamas took power in 2007 and Israel imposed its blockade.

He has declared support for the people of Gaza and called for the siege to be lifted.

The Israeli and Egyptian blockade has banned the entry of all but essential goods and restricted the movement of people.

But Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is now engaged in discussions on ways to meet Gaza's humanitarian needs while preventing the entry of weapons.

Egypt has announced it will open its border crossing at Rafah permanently.

Middle East correspondent Anne Barker"

Originally posted by FearNoEvil
Egypt will open its border crossing at Rafah so it looks like the blockade is moot.

Egypt is not going to allow rocket shipments through.

So Iran still has to get ships in to carry rockets.


My guess is that Israel will fire unaimed and unarmed simulated anti ship missiles near the Iranian ships. or run drones in a way that looks like a air attack. or maybe fire unarmed and unguided torpedo's.

Iran when they see these will fire real anti ship missiles.

Now it will look like a unprovoked attack by Iran.

Then Iran will have a lot of wreckage on the bottom of the ocean and will look like the aggressor.

The next thing that will happen within a VERY short time is a massive air attack on Iran in retaliation for the "unprovoked" attack on Israeli ships.

Iran will have a very hard time getting any one that was monitoring the area to believe they did not attack first

And you know ever NATO and other countries ships plus the media will be watching.
All Israel has to do is make it look like Iran fired first.

The Iranians will be expecting a attack.
All Israel has to do is trigger the belief in the Iranian ships captains that they are being attacked when they are not.

If this happens the Iranian ships captains will fire before they (think)are going to be hit.

Here is a bit from the San Remo Manual thats very interesting...

A neutral nation may choose to send a convoy accompanied by warships. The warship can provide guarantees that the convoy does not contain contraband. in which case, the blockading nation does not have any right of inspection.

www.answers.com...

I guess some may not consider Iran Neutral but legally they probably are as Israel has not declared war.

Originally posted by The_Smokeing_Gun
does anyone have any idea when these forces will meet?

Around June 25th or so, from what I have read..

How are these boats getting there , presumably the suez canal?Whats the betting it will be closed by egypt.....

Originally posted by virgom129
reply to post by DimensionalDetective

 

If you consider this blockade illegal, which I do. Then the Israelis should be looked upon as pirates.

I wish people would stop saying this and do a little research. A blockade is a recognized tactic used by nation states, it could happen anywhere but typically it happens outside a country's borders in its enemies waters. Piracy is also recognized by international law and it never involves a nation state, it is an act by private citizens which is why it is treated as a crime and not an act of war.

reply to post by ararisq


To me, to be legal they must recognise ALL of a law, not just the parts that suit their needs...

The same law they use to justify the blockade is regarging an "occupying force", therefore, as Israel has refused any request to recognise they are the "occupying force" they can not claim the blockade is legal....

Israel has also NOT declared they are at war...

Originally posted by virgom129
reply to post by ararisq

 

The same law they use to justify the blockade is regarging an "occupying force", therefore, as Israel has refused any request to recognise they are the "occupying force" they can not claim the blockade is legal....

Again -- there is no "legal" blockade. A blockade is deemed illegal by the side being blockaded and legal by the side doing the blockade. There is not an international court or ruling body that defines whether it is legal. Nor is any war legal or illegal. You win and you get to define history. I just want people to stop all of this legal/illegal nonsense because it is pointless. You are dealing with a nation state of millions of people with advanced weaponry and capabilities including nuclear missiles - not a dozen Somalis.

It sounds from this story that Iran has backed down - are they not sending warships as stated previously? It sounds as though they are assembling a civilian ship and have asked for volunteers which might include highly trained soldiers but in an unofficial capacity. None of these ships are getting through the blockade as long as it is up - not without warships and an actual naval battle. Then its an all out war and tens if not hundreds of thousands will die. I don't see why such a tactic is necessary.

[edit on 13-6-2010 by ararisq]

reply to post by ararisq


So in our so called modern society, according to you its still,

"he who has the biggest stick wins? "

Originally posted by virgom129
So in our so called modern society, according to you its still, "he who has the biggest stick wins? "

Why do you call us modern? You just mean present-day. We're not living in the federation on Star Trek. We have something like 194 countries on the planet and dozens of political and military conflicts on-going - so I think it is an accurate observation that whoever has the bigger stick is going to win. This international law international water nonsense makes for good theater but the guys with guns and tanks don't give a flying flip about it.

The U.S. now has 11 warships in the game. Doesn't look like it will be just Iran vs. Israel. Iran or any other blockade runners could have to deal with U.S. warships as well.

www.israelnationalnews.com...