Israeli Dolphin sub Credit: IDF spokesperson’s unit
TEL AVIV: An Israeli Dolphin submarine possibly carrying nuclear weapons crossed the Suez Canal last week on its way to the Persian Gulf, sources here confirmed on Dec 22. The submarine crossed the Suez Canal with Egyptian approval and sailed on the surface, a source said, “sending a clear warning to Teheran.”
Last week, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley visited Israel to coordinate joint actions against Iran should it attack Israeli targets.
The Dolphin submarines are armed with a mix of very advanced weapons, including long-range ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads, according to foreign press sources.
Israeli intelligence point to a possible military action by Iran against the U.S and Israel as the Jan. 3 anniversary of the death of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Quds Force, approaches. He was killed when a U.S drone launched missiles that obliterated his car near Baghdad International Airport.
In a parallel development, the Israeli government instructed the IDF to prepare for an American action against Iran, according to a report by senior reporter Barak Ravid at the Israeli Walla News outlet
This report said the IDF was instructed “to prepare for a scenario of a U.S action against Iran before President Donald Trump leaves the White House on January 20.” It also says Israeli Defense Secretary Benny Gantz has spoken twice in the past two weeks with Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller.
Earlier this month, the New York Times reported that President Trump had discussed attacking Iran’s central uranium enrichment facility in Natanz during an Oval Office meeting. Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other senior government officials convinced the president it would lead to regional escalation and the matter was dropped.
A few days after the New York Times report, Pompeo visited Israel and the Gulf states. While Pompeo was in the Gulf, Central Command announced a surprise exercise in which B-52 strategic bombers were launched. A CentCom statement said “the aim of the exercise was to deter aggressive elements” and to express support for the United States’ allies in the Middle East. The B-52s are capable of carrying the giant deep penetrating bombs designed to destroy buried and protected sites such as those the Iranians have reportedly built to protect their facilities.
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