JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER. 1 COR 15:23-JESUS THE FIRST FRUITS-CHRISTIANS RAPTURED TO JESUS-FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT-23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.ROMANS 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE)
WED APR 17 WAS ALMOST THE IST NUKE ATTACK ON A COUNTRY. PAKISTAN THREATENED ISRAEL AND AMERICA.
INVENTION OF THE ATOMIC BOMB.
2 PETER 3:10-11
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements (NUKES) shall melt with fervent heat,(BLAST) the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.(BUT ITS NO END OF THE WORLD HOGWASH)
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,(BY NUKES INCLUDING 3 BILLION PEOPLE) what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
NUCLEAR WEAPONS WILL BE USED.
JESUS SHED HIS BLOOD FOR US THAT WE CAN BE SAVED FOREVER.AND DURING WW3 PEOPLES BLOOD WILL BE SHED AS A JUDGEMENT FOR HATING HIM AND ISRAEL.GOD IS NOT MOCKED.
ZEPHANIAH 1:2-3
2 I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.
3 I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.
PSALMS 97:3
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
EZEKIEL 5:15-17
15 So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the (ARAB/MUSLIM) nations that are round about thee,(ISRAEL) when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it.
16 When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:
17 So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts,(WHEN RUSSIA/MUSLIMS GET DEFEATED THIER BODIES GET EATEN BY BIRDS,ANIMALS IN ISRAEL MIGRATION SEASON) and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee;(NUKES) and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it.
REVELATION 14:18-20
18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trodden without the city,(JERUSALEM) and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.(200 MILES) (THE SIZE OF ISRAEL)
ISAIAH 66:15-18
15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire,(NUKES) and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.
18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
ISAIAH 26:21
21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity:(GOD/ISRAEL HATE AND BRAKING OF HIS COMMANDMENTS) the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.(WW3,1/2 earths population die - 3 BILLION).
ISAIAH 13:6-13 KJV
6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:(FROM FRIGHT)
8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
ISAIAH 24:17-23 KJV
17 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
18 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.
19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.
21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.
23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.
2 TIMOTHY 3:1
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous (DANGEROUS) times shall come.
JOEL 2:3,30
ZECHARIAH 14:12-13
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their eyes shall consume away in their holes,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB)(BECAUSE NUKES HAVE BEEN USED ON ISRAELS ENEMIES)(GOD PROTECTS ISRAEL AND ALWAYS WILL)
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.(1/2-3 BILLION DIE IN WW3)(THIS IS AN ATOMIC BOMB EFFECT)
EZEKIEL 20:47
47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
ZEPHANIAH 1:18
18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
MALACHI 4:1
1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven;(FROM ATOMIC BOMBS) and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
REVELATION 8:7
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
REVELATION 9:18
18 By these three was the third part of men killed,(2 BILLION) by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.(ATOMIC BOMBS)(RUSSIA CHINA DESTROYED BY ISRAELS ATOMIC BOMBS)
REVELATION 16:12-16
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates;(WERE WW3 STARTS IN IRAQ OR SYRIA OR TURKEY) and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon,(SATAN) and out of the mouth of the beast,(WORLD DICTATOR) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.(FALSE POPE)
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.(WERE 2 BILLION DIE FROM NUKE WAR)
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
PROOF HALF ON EARTH DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD (8 BILLION ON EARTH)
REVELATION 6:7-8 (8 BILLION- 2 BILLION = 6 BILLION)
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse:(CHLORES GREEN) and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth,(2 BILLION) to kill with sword,(WEAPONS) and with hunger,(FAMINE) and with death,(INCURABLE DISEASES) and with the beasts of the earth.(ANIMAL TO HUMAN DISEASE).
REVELATION 9:15,18 (6 BILLION - 2 BILLION = 4 BILLION)
15 And the four(DEMONIC WAR) angels were loosed,
18 By these three was the third part of men killed,(2 BILLION) by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.(NUCLEAR ATOMIC BOMBS)
HALF OF EARTHS POPULATION DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION.(THESE VERSES ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
LUKE 17:34-37 (8 TOTAL BILLION - 4 BILLION DEAD IN TRIB = 4 BILLION TO JESUS KINGDOM) (HALF DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD JUST LIKE THE BIBLE SAYS)(GOD DOES NOT LIE)(AND NOTICE MOST DIE IN WAR AND DISEASES-NOT COMETS-ASTEROIDS-QUAKES OR TSUNAMIS)
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other shall be left.(half earths population 4 billion die in the 7 yr trib)
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.(Christians have new bodies,this is the people against Jerusalem during the 7 yr treaty)(Christians bodies are not being eaten by the birds).THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES.BECAUSE NOT HALF OF PEOPLE ON EARTH ARE CHRISTIANS.AND THE CONTEXT IN LUKE 17 IS THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION OR 7 YR TREATY PERIOD.WHICH IS JUDGEMENT ON THE EARTH.NOT 50% RAPTURED TO HEAVEN.
MATTHEW 24:37-42 (THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-SURE NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
42 Watch therefore:(FOR THE LAST DAYS SIGNS HAPPENING) for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
LAST WEDNESDAY APR 17 WE WERE CLOSE TO A NUCLEAR EXCHANGE. A GUY NAMED MIKE ON THE INTERNET SAID ISRAEL WAS GOING TO HIT IRAN REALLY HARD AFTER IRAN ATTACKED ISRAEL. BUT PAKISTAN WARNED THEY BETTER NOT. SO BIDEN BRAIN-DEAD LIBBY DIBBY COVINCED NETANYAHU TO DO NOT GO AFTER IRAN HARD OR PAKISTAN WILL EITHER NUKE ISRAEL OR AMERICA. BUT THIS MIKE GUY SAID THE NUKE MISSLES WERE ON THE LAUNCH PADS READY TO GO.
Why Nuclear-Armed Pakistan Remains Silent Spectator Of Israeli “Aggression” In The Middle-East?-By KN Pandita - April 17, 2024
Being the only Islamic country in possession of nuclear weapons, Pakistan was supposed to react rather vigorously to what the pro-Palestinians call Israel’s genocide in Gaza.The expectation was also high because Pakistan is not only the founding father of the OIC but also its principal member, commanding the respect of other members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.But contrary to the expectations of a majority of OIC members, who seek outright effacement of the Jewish state from the map of Arab lands in the Middle East, Pakistan has generally adopted a passive stance with respect to its Israel-related policy, typically confining to a subdued demand for two-state option as a viable solution to the Palestinian conundrum.The nuclear-armed country that has been threatening India with Nukes has been tongue-tied when Israel declares it won’t stop short of destroying Gaza lock, stock, and barrel. People ask where is Pakistan’s much-trumpeted “Islamic Bomb” while Islam is faced with a grave challenge.But Iran, as an active member of the OIC and vociferously anti-Israel, had understood long back that Pakistan’s claim of an “Islamic Bomb” was only a hoax without substance or, to be too frank as Iranians think, is not in actual control of the device.Perhaps this is the reason why Iran has been frantically pursuing to attain nuclear capability, which Israel is determined to stonewall as long as it can.Curiously, while Israel has been keen on disabling Iranian nuclear capability and earlier did destroy Iraq and Syria’s nuclear pursuit, it never threatened Pakistan with any punitive action when Islamabad was very close to producing the bomb. Even the US, too, had turned its eye away from Pakistan’s nuclear program.This clearly shows that Pakistan’s nuclear trajectory is India-oriented, with a green signal both from Washington and Tel Aviv.It is no surprise to lend credence to strategic interaction like this. India had to conduct the Pokhran test with the highest imaginable secrecy and confidentiality. That pre-requisite was not in place for Pakistan’s maiden nuclear test.Pakistan-Israel Relations-They have a close understanding between them, little known to the world outside and less to the OIC members.The Middle East Monitor of August 3, 2023, carried a piece titled’ Pakistan Intelligence using Israel Spyware’ that asserts that Pakistani Intelligence agencies are using Israeli spyware.Israeli media earlier claimed that “Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency and various police units in the country have been using products produced by the Israeli cyber technology firm Cellebrite since at least 2012.”The bizarre part of the story is that Pakistan has no diplomatic ties with Israel. The Haartez paper claimed that the software was purchased in Singapore. Cellebrite software allows law enforcement agencies to engage in digital forensic work by hacking into password-protected cell phones and copying all the stored information.The Middle East Monitor raises the question of whether spyware should be sold to oppressive regimes in countries where even human rights organizations are stifled.Not Only Pakistan-Coming back to Pak-Israel relations, it is to be said that Pakistan is not the only Muslim country for which Israel is not a pariah; there are others as well among the bogus OIC that have kept overt or covert channels open for interaction with Israel.The prime example of such normalization with the Jewish State is the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The kingdom was reluctant belligerent in the 1967 six-day war.“Ahead of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the Jordanian king was helicoptered to a Mossad building outside Tel Aviv, along with his prime minister Ziad Rifai, where he informed Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Golda Meir of Syria’s planned offensive and Egyptian support”, reported the Middle East Monitor in its issue of 15 April.Speaking on condition of anonymity, one independent Jordanian observer revealed to MEM that “Iran is the enemy, not Israel.”Hamas War Derails Normalization.Before the 7th October attack on Israel that caused the death of about 1200 Israelis and the captivity of hundreds of men, women, and children at the hands of Hamas barbarians, silent activity was going on at various levels and individuals for normalization of Arab-Israel relations.UAE and Bahrain had already initiated an exchange of officials with Israel in 2020, and the Saudi Kingdom, under the leadership of Crown Prince Salman, was also conducting parleys through emissaries for that purpose.In the South Asian country of Pakistan, a debate had intermittently flared up in national mainstream television channels and social media platforms about whether Islamabad should reconsider its stand on Israel.The two countries have been holding secret meetings on security-related issues since their foreign ministers met publicly in 2005. The discourse gained momentum in March this year when one Fishel Benkhalid, a Pakistani Jew in the city of Karachi, revealed via his social media platform that he had successfully exported his first kosher food shipment to Jerusalem and Haifa.Pakistani officials said that export had taken place through a third country and was Benkhalid’s initiative and did not signal any intention of the state of trade relations with Israel. The Hamas war derailed the efforts of normalization.Malaya Lodhi, a former Pakistani ambassador to the UN, said that time was not ripe for conducting talks on the subject. She said, “Pakistan has been a steadfast supporter of the Palestinian cause. It would want to see a de-escalation of the conflict.“Conclusion-Pakistan has strong ties with the Saudi kingdom. When the flames of Middle East fighting die down, Saudi Arabia will revive its mission of normalizing relations with Israel, which, in turn, will encourage it to throw off the mask and come out in the open to establish normal relations with Israel.In that situation, Pakistan will have to handle extreme rightist segments at home. Moreover, Pakistan needs to mend the fence with the US and the EU to come out of the isolation caused by its long fraternizing policy with the religious extremists.Normalization of relations with Israel and open trade and commerce, as well as in various technologies, would give some credibility to Pakistan as a legitimate peace-loving country.Prof. KN Pandita (Padma Shri) is the former director of the Center of Central Asian Studies at Kashmir University.This article contains the author’s personal views.
Pakistan’s ‘Illicit’ Connections With Chinese & Iranian Entities Irks The US; Washington Threatens Sanctions-By EurAsian Times Desk -
April 25, 2024-By: Vaishali Basu Sharma
As Pakistan hosted Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on April 23-24, the US issued a caution that anyone doing business with Iran risks being sanctioned by America. It appears that Pakistan is eager to exchange know-how in industry, science, and technology with Iran despite Washington’s disapproval, which ‘forbids’ commercial ties with Tehran.Meanwhile, Raisi concluded his three-day maiden trip to Pakistan on April 24 and had “productive” talks with the country’s top leadership to combat terrorism and strengthen trade ties.When asked about Pakistan’s efforts to expand trade ties with Iran, US State Department’s Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said, “Let me say broadly we advise anyone considering business deals with Iran to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions.”In fact, this is the second incident of Pakistan dealing with sanctioned ‘entities’ within days. Just a few days ago, the US Department of State imposed sanctions on Chinese-based companies and individuals exporting nuclear and missile-related items to Pakistan.On April 19, pursuant to Section 1(a)(ii) of Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, the US imposed sanctions on four entities for their alleged involvement in supplying “missile-applicable items” to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program, including its long-range missile program.According to the US Department of State, the four entities include the Belarus-based Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant and three China-based companies: Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co Ltd., and Granpect Company Limited.rime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif @CMShehbaz and Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi @raisi_com , President of the Islamic Republic of Iran today, held in-depth talks on bilateral and regional issues. The two leaders reaffirmed commitment to expanding wide-ranging bilateral… pic.twitter.com/awis5YBqFl— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 22, 2024-Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant supplied special vehicle chassis to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program. Such chassis are used as launch support equipment for ballistic missiles by Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC), which is responsible for the development of Missile Technology Control Regime Category (MTCR) I ballistic missiles.People’s Republic of China (PRC)-based Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited supplied, among other missile-related equipment, a filament winding machine to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program that we assess was destined for NDC.Filament winding machines can be used to produce rocket motor cases. Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co. Ltd. stir welding equipment, which the US assesses can be used to manufacture propellant tanks used in space launch vehicles, and a linear accelerator system, which the US assesses can be used in the inspection of solid rocket motors.The US State Department assessed that Tianjin Creative’s procurements were likely destined for Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), which develops and produces Pakistan’s MTCR Category I ballistic missiles. Granpect Company Limited, also China-based, has worked with Pakistan’s SUPARCO to supply equipment for the testing of large-diameter rocket motors. Granpect Co. also supplied equipment for testing large-diameter rocket motors to Pakistan’s NDC.These sanctions come in the aftermath of concerns raised by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, who visited Pakistan last month. Following his visit, doubts regarding Pakistan’s nuclear and missile program were expressed.The Shehbaz Sharif government, which is also in the middle of talks with the IMF to resume a stalled loan program, concurrently asserted that there would be “no compromise” on the country’s nuclear and missile program and they are “jealously guarded by the state.”There has been a significant delay in the agreement with the IMF, which would offer a critical economic lifeline to Pakistan. Responding to questions raised by PPP Senator Raza Rabbani over the conditions set by the IMF, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told the Senate there would be “no compromise” on the country’s nuclear and missile program.“Let me assure you that […] nobody is going to compromise anything on the nuclear or the missile programme of Pakistan — no way.”The fact sheet issued by the US Department of State specified that “the ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior.” Nevertheless, Pakistan has rejected the imposed sanctions, calling it out as the “political use of export controls.”Reacting to the sanctions, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, “We reject political use of export controls. It is well known that the same jurisdictions, which claim strict adherence to non-proliferation controls, have waived licensing requirements for advanced military technologies for some countries.” She added that “such discriminatory approaches and double standards” undermine the credibility of non-proliferation regimes and also the objectives of regional and global peace and security by “accentuating military asymmetries.”Speaking to Dawn, analyst Shuja Nawaz of Washington’s Atlantic Council said that the sanctions directly punished Pakistan for pursuing missile development. He believes that even as US officials went out of their way to assist Pakistan in its economic recovery efforts via the IMF, World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank, these sanctions were “a reminder that for all the carrots, there are sticks that the US can deploy.”In the past, the US government has expressed concerns about China’s record concerning the proliferation of nuclear and missile-related technologies in other countries. The US is also cognizant of the threat that Chinese acquisition of US-origin nuclear technology poses.While indications are that while the Chinese government has ended its direct involvement in the transfer of nuclear and missile-related items, Chinese-based companies and individuals continue to export MTCR-controlled items to missile programs of proliferation concern, including that of Pakistan.According to the US, China’s construction of civil nuclear reactors in Pakistan violates Beijing’s Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG, a multilateral control regime for nuclear-related exports) commitments. China is a participant in the NSG but not of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).However, it has agreed to adhere to the regime’s export guidelines. China has constructed four power reactors in Pakistan and is constructing two additional such reactors. NSG guidelines prohibit such projects in states such as Pakistan, which lack IAEA safeguards on all of the country’s nuclear facilities. Islamabad’s nuclear weapons facilities are not safeguarded.In their article ‘How Many Nuclear Weapons Does Pakistan Have in 2021?’ In the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Hans Kristensen and Matt Korda categorically state that “Pakistan continues to expand its nuclear arsenal with more warheads, more delivery systems, and a growing fissile materials production industry.”Pakistan possesses an estimated 160-165 warheads, along with delivery systems capable of reaching at least 2,000 kilometers, enough to target all of India’s territory.According to a 202 Royal United Services Institute (RUSI, London) report, “AQ Khan Is Dead—Long Live the Pro-liferation Network,” despite the disruption of the nuclear proliferation network overseen by A.Q. Khan, parts of the proliferation network remain intact. Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, materials, and technologies are a major concern for the US, as Islamabad has neither acceded to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty nor accepted comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson has responded that there is a need for an “objective mechanism to avoid erroneous sanctions on the technology needed purely for socio-economic development pursuits” and that the country is ready to discuss end-use and end-user verification mechanisms.Vaishali Basu Sharma is an analyst of strategic and economic affairs. She was in a consulting role with India’s National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) for nearly a decade. he author can be reached at postvaishali (at) gmail (dot) com.
India, Russia, Iran ‘Bet Big’ On INSTC To Boost Connectivity & Trade; Evade Dangerous Red Sea & Suez Canal-By KN Pandita - April 25, 2024
The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) initiative by Russia, Iran, and India to enhance trade and transport connectivity among countries along its route could not only help Russia and Iran counter Western sanctions but may also benefit the global economy to move away from the now-dangerous Red Sea and the Suez link to the Mediterranean.Imposing economic sanctions has become a preferred tool of the Western developed countries, especially the US, to punish a defiant state. For these powers, defiance means anything that does not fit their interests and perceptions. This is how the hegemony of the powerful is demonstrated.One aspect of the sanctions regime is controlling trade routes by maintaining surveillance over the waterways or roadways over which cargo moves across the globe. In recent times, overland highways—China’s Belt and Road Initiative is an example—have gained great importance as a means of connectivity for economic and security purposes.International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)-The idea of building the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) sprang up due to the imposition of sanctions on Russia. Moscow began exploring alternative markets for its products that would not need transportation through vulnerable or forbidden connectivity.The INSTC plan comprises a 7,200-km corridor starting from St Petersburg in Russia to ports in southern Iran and from there to Mumbai in India. The idea is of a shipping route that should bypass Europe. It will also reduce the length of the current path through the Mediterranean Sea and the Suez Canal to Russia by almost half.The corridor will connect Russia with Iran through three routes. The main route, the West Caspian route, passes through Azerbaijan via rail and road. The central route transits through the Caspian Sea by ship, and the eastern path follows the Caspian Sea’s eastern shore.Azerbaijan Terminus-Substantial progress has been made in building the western route. Nikkei on March 12 reported that the Azerbaijan Ministry of Digital Development and Transport had told its correspondent that rail freight had grown roughly 30 percent last year, while road freight rose 35 percent to 1.3 million tonnes.Azerbaijan expects total freight traffic to reach 30 million tonnes per year. To this end, it plans to construct a railway and road crossing the Aras River, which runs along its border with Iran.A four-lane toll road connecting the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, with the Russian border, opened in October last year following the March 2023 opening of the customs checkpoint in the area.A Blessing In Disguise-Many commentators have termed the imposition of sanctions on Russia a blessing in disguise. Three countries, Russia, Iran, and India, first agreed to the plan as early as 2000. However, recent political realignments in the region became the catalyst for advancing the plan.The sanctions on Russia shifted the importance of the Mediterranean trade route to the Azerbaijan grid. Russia sought Asian and Middle Eastern export markets for its products. Simultaneously, as Iran was also reeling under sanctions, Tehran evinced keen interest in the newly contemplated North-South connectivity, which it came to be called.The plan got reinforcement from the recent events in the Red Sea and also the Israel-Hamas clashes in the Middle East. The Iran-backed Houthi attacks on mercantile shipping across the Red Sea exposed the insecurity of the Suez link to the Mediterranean. The UK and US had to move their naval ships to the region to provide security to commercial vessels. Reflecting on the importance of North-South Sea transportation, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told the Russian media in January this year: “Given what is seen in the Red Sea region, the North-South corridor will gain global significance.”The Indian Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, pointed out that “it is in the interests of the global economy that this corridor progresses.”Impact-The development of the North-South corridor will shift the commercial importance of the Red Sea-Mediterranean link to the new South Caucasian region corridor.The project has already begun to show its impact. Iran, for example, supplied drones to Russia unhindered by the sanctions imposed on it. Moscow has received drones and other military equipment. Second, the corridor has brought Azerbaijan and Russia closer than ever, which has boosted the Azerbaijan government’s morale in its impending tensions with Armenia, which is receiving a lot of Western support.The impact is not to be construed only in military terms. Its commercial importance is uppermost because that impacts the lives of millions of people.In one way, the impact of the North-South corridor has been adverse on Armenia, no doubt. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at loggerheads for a long time over the autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh.Armenia had to bid goodbye to Karabakh because of the apathy of Moscow and the aggressive designs of Azerbaijan bolstered by Erdogan’s (Turkey) hawkish regime.The North-South corridor can potentially transform the lives of millions of people in the region by opening new avenues of economic activity, easy mobility, and freedom from the adverse impact of economic sanctions.Azerbaijan is an important point on the road linking Europe with China via the Caspian Sea. It is also a supplier of oil and natural gas to Europe through pipelines.Previously, Azerbaijan was not on good terms with Iran due to Azerbaijan’s pro-Turkey stance. At that time, Armenia had come closer to Iran essentially through the large Armenian diaspora in Iran.However, that situation has changed now, and the Iranian foreign minister bluntly told his Armenian counterpart during the latter’s visit to Tehran not to open up freely to the Jewish state of Israel and its allies.Armenia-Alarmed by the far-reaching geopolitical changes stemming from the North-South corridor project, Armenia put forward a proposal.Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashiniyan presented the “Crossroads of Peace” proposal in October last year, which envisioned a north-south and east-west network of rail and road through which Armenia hopes to reopen its borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey.Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar paid his maiden visit to Yerevan, the Armenian capital, in October 2021.Political pundits believe that the recent rise in India-Armenia relations is the need of the hour amidst the crucial geopolitical game in the South Caucasus region. Armenia desires India to try to balance the fractured geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus, which has witnessed regional power rivalry, conflict over territory, and war as well. Prof. KN Pandita (Padma Shri) is the former director of the Center of Central Asian Studies at Kashmir University.This article contains the author’s personal views.Follow EurAsian Times on X (formerly Twitter)
F-15 Vs Su-35: Iranian Expert Bets Big On Russian Super Flankers To Outflank Invading Israeli Jets-By Parth Satam - April 17, 2024
With another round of escalation expected between Iran and Israel following the former’s missile barrage in retaliation to its embassy being bombed by the Jewish nation, experts have laid out a series of scenarios of how Tel Aviv’s and Tehran’s militaries might clash. The tactical situations involve Israeli Air Force (IsAF) F-15Is releasing air-launched ballistic missiles (ALBM) to saturate Iranian air defenses. Iran might increase the tempo and lethality of its missile strikes—rather than the largely symbolic salvo earlier this week. Two interesting observations about the military element in the two countries’ international diplomacy, however, come into focus. First is the claim that Israel has been pressuring Russia to stall and delay the sale of Su-35S Generation 4.5 fighters to Iran, which poses a severe threat to IsAF’s F-15Is and, to a certain extent, its F-35s.Secondly, reports say Iran is qualitatively enhancing its existing and future missile arsenals with sophisticated Russian technology. This is in return for parting with its own cheap, mass-produced kamikaze drone technology like the Shahed-136 (rechristened Geranium-2 by Russia). Russian Tech Helps Iranian Missiles-The second part first. The Washington Post (WaPo), referring to leaked emails and documents, reported how an Iranian delegation was hosted at Russian arms maker NPP Yekaterinburg in March 2023, showcasing “scientific and technical, potential and production capabilities” that Russia could offer Iran. Intelligence officials told WaPo that Russia will “provide its ally with advanced fighter jets and air defense technology, assets that could help Tehran harden its defenses against any future airstrike by Israel or the United States.” “The weapons deals, some details of which have not been reported previously, are part of a broader collaboration that includes co-production of military drones inside Russia, the sharing of anti-jamming technology, and real-time battlefield assessments of weapons deployed against NATO-equipped forces in Ukraine. The cooperation is reaping substantial benefits for both countries, elevating Iran’s status to a strategic partner,” WaPo said. This validates a previous EurAsian Times analysis that touched upon the unprecedented defense technical heft being given to Russo-Iranian relations amid their mutually shared hostility with the West. That report noted how Russia had manufactured and used its own iteration of the Shahed 136 (Geran-2) to devastating effect in Ukraine after acquiring the full technology and reverse engineering the UAV with the help of Iranian engineers.It is now likely to return the favor by parting with cutting-edge missile propulsion, target seeker, guidance and navigation technology. The conclusions were based on comments of Russian and Iranian defense officials following the first-of-its-kind visit of Moscow’s defense minister Sergei Shoigu to Iran in September 2023, where he was shown a series of missiles and combat UAVs.On a different note, Russia is also pursuing a similar partnership with North Korea. While using the North’s massive stockpile of artillery ammunition, it can be said to have lent technical assistance to Pyongyang’s Hwasong-16B Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV). Israeli F-15s To ‘ROCK’ Iranian Air Defenses? ‘Patarames,’ a handle on X (formerly Twitter) that specializes in analyzing Iranian military technology and doctrine, shared a computer-generated graphic from Israel’s Rafael Advanced Systems, showing F-15Is firing the ROCKS air-to-surface (ASM) to “saturate” Iranian air defenses. The brochure described the ROCKS as an “all-weather, day-night” stand-off ASM that can, with “either a penetration or blast fragmentation warhead, destroy above-ground or well-protected underground targets in heavily surface-to-air defended areas.”The pilot feeds target information (coordinates, impact angle, azimuth, topographic imagery data, and fuse delays) into the missile prior to launch. It is not clear if this data can be loaded into the missile on the ground prior to the mission, like the British-French SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) Ukraine fires from its Su-24M ground attack jets. However, it does share the terminal-stage target acquisition and approach with a “scene-matching technology,” to “overcome GPS jamming scenarios.” Images of the target (typically a building or fortified structure) and its surroundings are loaded into the missile’s memory. The missile’s optical seeker then matches the live image with the stored picture to confirm the target identity and commences its attack run. SCALP and Storm Shadow use the Digital Scene Matching Area Correlator (DSMAC) technology, which operates on the same principle. The ROCKS missile’s image correlation technology and electro-optical seeker are particularly aided by an Automatic Target Acquisition algorithm that also helps it “overcome anti-radiation technologies, GPS jamming, navigation, and Target Location Errors.” In its mid-course trajectory, ROCKS uses an Inertial Navigation System (INS)/GPS. The illustrated image shows an F-15I firing ROCKS missiles that are striking long-range SAM sites. One missile is also seen hitting the base of a mountain—possibly denoting an underground Iranian nuclear site. It is seen diving down and turning 180 degrees to hit the base of the mountain.The F-15 is approaching the target from behind the mountain, representing the missile’s maneuvering capability and range, which keep the launch aircraft well outside the range of SAMs. “Compared to Natanz, Arak, and Esfahan Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF), Fordow uranium enrichment plant would be immune to such weapons. Yet, an unknown larger variant could be carried by a single F-15 and possess a higher penetration capability warhead to damage entrances. (This can put them) UGF out of action for longer,” the Patarames said. F-15I Vs. Su-35S-The F-15Is might fly a low-altitude “terrain-masking” flight profile over Jordan, “pop up over Iraq,” “dash to Mach 1.5,” climb to an altitude of “14 km,” and launch “two ROCKS” missiles. For the “penetrating effect” required for underground targets, they can retain an “impact velocity” of “Mach 5.” In this context, Patarames said, “This weapon class and capability should be the reason why Israel used all its leverage on Russia to cancel or at least delay the delivery of Su-35. Those could easily thwart the incoming attacks and force the F-15 to jettison their heavy ALBM (Air-Launched Ballistic Missile) to defend themselves.” Iran’s Cold War-era US-made F-14 Tomcats, F-4E Phantom IIs have been suffering severe maintainability and flight-worthiness issues as debilitating economic and military-trade sanctions prevent it from accessing spares. The roundabout measures to access aerospace parts from intermediate, smaller aviation services companies to circumvent sanctions became unsustainable after US law enforcement authorities busted the rackets and arrested several American Iranians in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Its Soviet-origin MiG-29s, meanwhile, are too few to make any noticeable difference. This situation motivated the far-sighted Iranians to compensate by focusing on a missile and drone-centric military doctrine in the 1980s.The Generation 4.5 Su-35S would be the most advanced jet in the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) and comparable to the Israeli F-15I or Qatari Eurofighter Typhoon. The Su-35S with its N035 Irbis-E passive electronically-scanned array (PESA) radar can detect aerial targets at a range of 400 km, provide high-resolution ground images in synthetic aperture mode, has an OLS-35 electro-optical targeting system and Khibiny-M electronic warfare (EW), that comprises of pods on the wingtips and sensors around the aircraft.The jet can be used for purely air superiority modes to tackle the F-15, which as discussed in another EurAsian Times piece, would most likely be employed as a ‘missile truck’ – launching air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles based on targeting information received from its stealth F-35Is. IsAF would find it difficult to conduct long-range standoff strikes, while Iranian ground-based AD systems like the Bavar-373 – which it says is comparable to the Russian S-400 – would be free to tackle other Israeli aircraft and land strike munitions.Israel Eyes Iranian Nuclear Sites-EurAsian Times had analyzed how Iran’s nuclear facilities might be Israel’s primary target, which both parties perceive lends Tehran very long-term geopolitical and diplomatic leverage before the West. Tel Aviv “might have far deeper and long-term goals for which it might be willing to risk a short, sharp, wider regional war,” that article said, which discussed the IsAF’s latest and previous exercises that targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities.This implied that both sides face mutual military advantages and disadvantages, “Israel has a vastly qualitatively superior air force with Generation 4.5 and Generation 5 jets. Iran makes up for its lack of conventional strength with a massive ground army, a stockpile of tanks and artillery, and a production capacity that far outstrips Israel,” the EurAsian Times analysis said.It also has an enormous and diverse inventory of tactical conventional and nuclear ballistic missiles and drones. “Israel can strike once and hit Iran but not meaningfully continue a campaign,” Patarames said.The author can be reached at satamp@gmail.com
Iran-Israel War – When US Navy Sank The Largest Warship Since WWII, Resulting In Massive Iranian Defeat-By Ashish Dangwal -
April 19, 2024
Israel launched retaliatory strikes against Iran, targeting the vicinity of Isfahan in central Iran. The retaliation follows Iran’s recent massive drone and missile assault on Israeli territory, marking a dangerous escalation that threatens to engulf the entire region.Reports indicate that the strike, which occurred overnight, targeted the area around Isfahan in central Iran, a site believed to have been involved in the April 13 attack on Israel.The exchange of fire between the two nations has reignited fears of a broader conflict, with concerns mounting over the potential involvement of the United States. The situation draws parallel to historical confrontations, particularly Operation Earnest Will in the late 1980s (July 24, 1987– September 26, 1988), when the United States intervened in the Gulf region amid rising tension. During this operation, US warships were deployed to escort reflagged Kuwaiti tankers targeted by Iran, leading to clashes between US and Iranian forces.During Operation Earnest Will, another US military move took place. It was Operation Praying Mantis, a fierce daylong battle between the US Navy and the Iranian Navy. The operation was launched four days after an Iranian mine hit the USS Samuel B. Roberts on April 14, 1988.undefined-Samuel B. Roberts is carried away aboard Mighty Servant 2 after hitting a mine in the Persian Gulf.The blast caused the ship to be lifted out of the water, creating a 30-foot hole below the waterline and destroying a 15-foot section of the keel. Ten sailors sustained severe injuries, including four who were severely burned, alongside Commander Paul X. Rinn.Despite the ship’s critical condition, the exceptional damage control efforts of the well-trained crew prevented its sinking, as described in Bradley Peniston’s book, “No Higher Honor: Saving the USS Samuel B. Roberts in the Persian Gulf.”The crew resorted to welding steel plates and rigging cables to prevent the ship’s stern from breaking off, showcasing a heroic feat of damage control.In response to the incident, the US reacted vigorously. Under the direction of President Reagan, the US Navy engaged the Iranian Navy in a daylong operation named Praying Mantis, employing combined surface-ship and air attacks.Operation Praying Mantis-According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, “Operation Praying Mantis was the largest of five major US Navy surface actions since World War II. It was the first, and so far the only time the US Navy has exchanged surface-to-surface missile fire with an enemy, and it resulted in the largest warship sunk by the U.S. Navy since WWII.”The mission’s objective was clear: to neutralize Iranian oil platforms serving as bases for attacks on Gulf shipping and to eliminate threats posed by Iranian naval vessels, particularly the notorious frigates targeting merchant-ship crews with machine-gun fire.The US military deployed a squadron of EA-6B Prowler electronic attack aircraft to suppress Iranian fire-control radars and communications, enabling American aircrew to engage their targets safely.The opening salvo of the battle saw naval gunfire and explosive charges damaging the Iranian oil platforms. In response, two Iranian F-4 Phantom aircraft, a guided-missile patrol boat, and armed Boghammer speedboats were sent into the battle.880418-N-ZZ999-005: Operation Praying Mantis, April 1988. Aerial view of the Iranian frigate IS Alvand (71) burning after being attacked by aircraft of Carrier Air Wing 11 from USS Enterprise (CVN-65). The attack was launched after the guided-missile frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) struck a mine on April 14, 1988. IS Alvand was hit by three Harpoon Missiles plus cluster munitions. Official U.S. Navy Photograph.Aerial view of the Iranian frigate IS Alvand (71) burning after being attacked by aircraft of Carrier Air Wing 11 from USS Enterprise (CVN-65). Official U.S. Navy Photograph.Undeterred, US forces relentlessly engaged the Iranian threats. Surface-to-air missiles chased off the Phantoms, while the USS Wainwright and USS Simpson sank the patrol boat with a barrage of missiles and naval gunfire. A-6E Intruder aircraft launched attacks on the Boghammers, sinking one and damaging others, forcing the remaining boats to retreat. As the battle intensified, an A-6 Intruder piloted by Cmdr. Bud Langston came under fire from the Iranian frigate Sahand. In a display of courage and precision, Langston and his crew returned fire, striking Sahand with missiles and a laser-guided bomb. Another Intruder and A-7 Corsairs joined the fray, unleashing a relentless barrage of missiles and bombs that set Sahand ablaze.Hours later, the severely damaged Sahand succumbed to the relentless assault. In a bold but ill-fated move, the sister ship Sabalan ventured into the fray, only to face a similar fate. undefined-The Iranian frigate Sahand burning from bow to stern on April 18 1988 after being attacked.A laser-guided bomb, delivered by Lt. Cmdr. Jim Engler’s Intruder, struck Sabalan’s engine room and delivered a decisive blow.Despite the operation’s success, President Reagan opted to call off further attacks, recognizing the toll taken on both sides. The US had made its point clear: aggression against its interests would not be tolerated.In the aftermath of Operation Praying Mantis, Iran towed the damaged Sabalan back to port, marking the end of a swift and decisive response to Iranian provocations. The operation showcased the formidable capabilities of the US military and served as a warning to adversaries seeking to challenge American interests in the region.William J. Luti, a retired U.S. Navy captain and an adjunct fellow at the Hudson Institute, noted, “Praying Mantis remains a case study in strengthening deterrence. Our victory kept Iran’s Navy at bay for more than two decades and helped change the course of the Iran-Iraq War, which had upended the region for eight bloody years. Iran never laid mines in the Gulf again.”Iranian Intelligence’s Misjudgment-Years later, a declassified CIA report shed light on a crucial aspect of Operation Praying Mantis, revealing a significant misunderstanding on the part of Iranian intelligence. According to the report, Iran believed that the operation was part of a coordinated effort between the United States and Iraq, with the US Navy launching attacks from the south and Iraq initiating a major offensive from the north.The timing of the operation coincided with a key event on Iran’s northern border, as Iraq launched a major offensive across Iran’s disputed northwest border on the morning of April 18, 1988. Iranian intelligence erroneously conveyed to the Ayatollah that a pact had been formed between Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and the United States to confront Iran simultaneously from both northern and southern fronts.The tragic incident involving the shoot-down of an Iranian airliner by the USS Vincennes further fueled the Ayatollah’s belief that the United States was poised to continue its military actions from the southern front. Faced with the daunting prospect of confronting two major adversaries on multiple fronts, Iran opted to seek peace with Iraq just a month later.Operation Praying Mantis, in this context, served a dual purpose. On the one hand, it restored a sense of national pride for the United States, showcasing its military prowess and resolve.On the other hand, it inadvertently played a role in bringing an end to the prolonged and devastating Iran-Iraq War, which had exacted a heavy toll in terms of lives lost and infrastructure destroyed, both among soldiers and civilians alike.Contact the author at ashishmichel(at)gmail.com
Iran Fired ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ To Attack Israel; Punctured Its Overhyped Air Defense Systems – State Media-By Sakshi Tiwari - April 15, 2024
After the massive aerial strike launched by Iran on Israel directly from its soil, there are claims that Tehran also employed hypersonic missiles that allegedly hit all its designated targets, bypassing Israel’s cutting-edge air defense systems.Every hypersonic missile fired by Iran in retaliatory strikes against Israel has successfully struck its targets after dodging the air defense systems of the country, Iran’s state news agency Press TV claimed a day after the overnight attacks launched by Tehran.The report stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran used hypersonic weapons against real targets for the first time when it launched massive missile and drone strikes on what it called “occupied territory.”The strikes, dubbed Operation True Promise, were carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and inflicted damage on Israeli military bases.Press TV was informed by sources that none of Iran’s hypersonic missiles were intercepted by the Israeli regime or its allies. However, the reports stopped short of naming the hypersonic missiles in question. The sources further underlined that Iran is one of the few nations with the technology to develop hypersonic missiles, which can strike targets precisely while traveling at astounding speeds.The claims about the use of hypersonic weapons could not be independently verified by the EurAsian Times. When asked whether Iran actually used a hypersonic missile, a Middle-East expert told the EurAsian Times, “They seem to have meant Kheibar Shekan (ballistic missile) when they said hypersonic.”Major General Mohammad Baqeri, the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, announced on April 14 that Israel’s Nevatim Airbase, from where an F-35 aircraft took off to bomb Iran’s diplomatic facilities in Damascus, was hit by Iran, along with another large intelligence base located inside Israel.He continued by saying that the strikes “reached its goals” since the Iranian drones and missiles were not adequately intercepted by the regime’s “Iron Dome” system. The IRGC was responding to an earlier April missile attack by Israel on Iran’s diplomatic buildings in the Syrian capital of Damascus.It was the biggest drone strike ever executed by any nation, and it was Iran’s first frontal assault on Israel in over fifty years of enmity.The Israel Defense Force (IDF) claims that 350 Iranian drones and missiles were fired against Israel during the night, and the warheads of these missiles and missiles combined carried 60 tons of explosives.Iran launched some 120 ballistic missiles, 30 cruise missiles, and 170 drones at targets in Israel Friday night, according to the IDF, which had earlier stated that 99 percent of the missiles were shot down, the great majority of them did so before they even reached Israeli airspace.Footage showing Members of the Israel Defense Force earlier today Removing the Fuselage of a Iranian “Emad” Medium-Range Ballistic Missile from the Sea of Galilee, after it was Shot Down during Saturday Night’s Attack. pic.twitter.com/vZeV1lflEq— Politics World Wide Web (@PoliticsWWWeb) April 15, 2024-Iran has not published the names of drones and missiles used against Israel in the operation. However, images that surface on social media displaying sections of those missiles that were shot down or otherwise missed their targets indicated some of the ballistic missiles used by Iran included Emad, Ghadr-110, Dezful, as well as a Kheiber Shekan, all of which are medium-range ballistic missiles.Israel said it intercepted 99% of drones and missiles and celebrated the effectiveness of its defenses against an unprecedented Iranian strike. All of the UAVs and cruise missiles were shot down, military spokesman Daniel Hagari said, while a few ballistic missiles got through Israel’s defenses.As for hypersonic missiles, they are believed to be more challenging to intercept given their maneuverability and unexpected trajectory. However, the experience gained from the battle in Ukraine, where Kyiv claims to have intercepted multiple Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, has shown the weapons are not invincible. Hypersonic missiles are capable of overcoming various kinds of air defense systems by performing a variety of maneuvers in and out of the Earth’s atmosphere. In fact, Israel claims that it made an exoatmospheric intercept of a missile. Exoatmospheric interception is the process of intercepting a missile outside of the atmosphere, which is located around 100 kilometers above sea level. However, there is no confirmation from Israel or its allies about intercepting an Iranian hypersonic missile.Iran’s Hypersonic Missile-Iran unveiled its first-ever hypersonic missile, Fattah, in June 2023. It claims it can penetrate all enemy missile defense systems.Iranian media reports have stated that the missile can reach a maximum speed of Mach 15 (5,145 meters or 16,880 feet per second), has a range of 1,400 kilometers (870 miles), and travels at a high maneuverability thanks to the use of solid propellants.The missile’s name, reportedly chosen by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, roughly translates to “to make victorious.” The unveiling of the missile was passed off as a historic ceremony, as Iran allegedly became the first country in the entire Middle Eastern region to wield a hypersonic weapon that moves at more than five times the speed of sound.Although International military experts have questioned Iran’s assertions that Fattah is a hypersonic missile, calling it an attempt at disinformation, Tehran erected a provocative billboard in Tehran a few days after the launch of the said missile. It featured the Fattah hypersonic missile and a chilling message that reads, “400 Seconds to Tel Aviv,” directly threatening Israel’s largest city.Iran’s latest claims about hypersonic strike are in line with previous assertion made by Iran’s state TV that the hypersonic missile can bypass even the most advanced anti-ballistic missile systems of the United States and the “Zionist regime,” including Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.While the world was still reeling with the information about the potential presence of a hypersonic weapon in Iran, the country showed off another hypersonic missile codenamed Fattah-2 a few months later, in November 2023.According to Iranian official media, Fattah-2 is a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV). Compared to a ballistic warhead that travels in a more foreseeable arc, an HGV offers significantly greater mobility as it glides to its target after initial launch. Pro-Iran military watchers touted the introduction of a second and more potent hypersonic missile within months of unveiling the first as an exceptional feat.However, since Western and Israeli officials rarely take Iranian claims seriously, they have continued to brush off reports that Tehran has indeed developed a hypersonic weapon – a capability that remains out of bounds for several technologically advanced militaries.ontact the author at sakshi.tiwari9555(at)gmail.com-Follow EurAsian Times on Google News
IAF’s Su-30 MKI Test Fires Ballistic Missile That Can ‘Rock’ Pakistan’s Terror Camps From Indian Airspace-By Ritu Sharma - April 24, 2024
India has test-fired Israeli-origin air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) Crystal Maze-II. The extended range ALBM means that the Indian Air Force (IAF) will not need to cross the border to strike targets like Balakot, should the need arise in the future, as the entire North Pakistan is within its range.On April 23, the Indian Defense Ministry announced that the Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI test-fired the new version of a medium-range ballistic missile manufactured by the Israeli Rafael in Andamans and Nicobar. The missile christened Rocks or Crystal Maze II, is capable of hitting targets at a distance of more than 250 kilometers.The IAF intends to manufacture these missiles under the Make in India initiative, leveraging the technology from Israel. The relevance of ALBMs has become highlighted in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war. Russian fighter jets have been deploying ALBMs from well within its territory and outside the hitting range of Ukrainian air defense systems.The ALBMs are designed to strike high-value stationary and movable targets in GPS-denied environments, like the one India faced during the Kargil War.When Pakistani troops infiltrated Kargil, India asked the US for Global Positioning System (GPS) data for the region. The US denied India’s request for information from the space-based navigation system maintained by the US government. Crystal Maze II would have been able to overcome the impediment.The test of Crystal Maze II was carried out by India’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC). The missile allows India to strike targets deep within enemy territory without physically crossing the border.Balakot was the site of an airstrike carried out by the IAF in February 2019. During that operation, IAF jets crossed the Line of Control (LoC) to target terrorist infrastructure in Balakot, Pakistan, 81 kilometers from Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, and 50 kilometers from the Line of Control.With the Crystal Maze-II, the IAF can potentially hit Balakot or similar targets without crossing the border, enhancing strategic flexibility.ALBMs can be launched from various platforms, including fighter jets, bombers, and other aircraft. This flexibility allows for rapid deployment and adaptability to changing scenarios. Unlike ground-based missiles, ALBMs are not tied to fixed launch sites, making them harder to predict and counter by adversaries.ALBMs can be launched from high altitudes, allowing them to bypass enemy air defenses and missile interception systems. By approaching targets from unexpected angles, ALBMs increase the likelihood of successful strikes.Since ALBMs are air-launched, they have shorter flight times compared to ground-launched missiles. This reduced warning time makes it challenging for adversaries to respond effectively. ALBMs can be deployed covertly, catching opponents off guard. Surprise launches can disrupt an adversary’s military operations and create confusion.Interestingly, during the Balakot strikes, the IAF could not fire any of the intended six Israeli air-to-surface missiles called the Crystal Maze-1 from the Mirage 2000 against Pakistan because its laid-down protocols did not allow it in that particular situation.If the Crystal Maze-1 missiles had been launched along with the SPICE-2000 bombs, they would’ve provided a live video feed of the bombs hitting their targets.ALBMs like Crystal Maze-II serve as a deterrent against aggression. They bolster India’s defense capabilities by providing an additional layer of response options. However, they come with their challenges related to aircraft modifications, safety protocols, and coordination.Su-30 MKI-Crystal Maze-II-This air-to-surface missile (ASM) is a precision-guided munition developed by the Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It is renowned for its accuracy and effectiveness in striking ground and naval targets.The missiles are equipped with advanced guidance systems, incorporating inertial, imaging infrared, or TV guidance, which guarantees exceptional precision even over extended distances.These missiles commonly carry high-explosive warheads and can be deployed from diverse platforms, including aircraft and submarines. This adaptability renders them suitable for an extensive array of missions, from targeting enemy military installations to striking naval vessels.The missiles would also serve India well in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), considered to be the country’s area of dominance.To achieve precise terminal homing, the operator can directly control the missile through an INS (Inertial Navigation System) and a data link, using either a television or imaging infrared seeker, which depends on the specific missile model.Importantly, the launching aircraft doesn’t need to retain control of the missile; control can be transferred to another platform while the launching aircraft safely exits the area.The export versions offer a choice between two types of warheads: a 340 kg (750 lb) blast/fragmentation warhead or a 360 kg (790 lb) penetrator. These guidance systems work in harmony to ensure that the missile precisely reaches its intended target.Ritu Sharma has been a journalist for over a decade, writing on defense, foreign affairs, and nuclear technology.The author can be reached at ritu.sharma (at) mail.com-Follow EurAsian Times on Google News
IAF Jaguar Fighters To Get ‘F-35 Missiles’; New-Gen French Missiles To Boost ‘Nuclear Capable’ Warplanes-By Ritu Sharma - April 22, 2024
After giving a new lease of life to its 1970s Sepecat Jaguar deep penetration strike aircraft, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking to integrate New Generation Close Combat missiles for the fighter jets.The IAF, the only air force in the world to operate these fighters, has revitalized them by performing a major upgrade that includes new attack and navigation avionics.The IAF has sought proposals from industry players to modify and re-equip two aircraft with new-generation missiles. The missiles will be integrated with the aircraft’s new Display Attack Ranging Inertial Navigation-III (DARIN-III) avionics and helmet-mounted display.The missiles are being identified as European firm MBDA’s Advance Short Range Air-To-Air Missile (ASRAAM).The IAF tender calls for the inclusion of Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS) to improve the pilot’s situational awareness and targeting capabilities. HMDS projects critical flight and targeting information directly onto the pilot’s helmet visor.The IAF has selected NGCCM (next-gen close combat missile) to replace the aging Matra R550 Magic on the Jaguar strike aircraft’s over-the-wing pylon. ASRAAM has an infrared homing system that can track and hone in on a target range inside the line of sight. The missile weighs 88 kg and has a range of more than 25 km.“IIR (Imaging Infrared) is the most advanced IR missile. There is no information on the target when IR missiles are launched since they are passive. With a Helmet-mounted Sighting Display, pilots can cue the missile head to look toward the target without turning the aircraft on that side. This makes off-boresight launch possible,” an official told the EurAsian Times.“The missiles also make it possible without input from onboard radar making ‘over the shoulder’ shots possible as no radar looks behind,” the official added.ASRAAM is in service with the Royal Air Force as its Within Visual Range (WVR) Dominance weapon. The weapon has been deployed by the Royal Australian Air Force on its F/A-18 Hornet.In WVR air combat, the ability to strike first is vital. A pilot engaging an enemy needs a missile that reacts more rapidly than ever before with the speed and agility to maximize the probability of a kill, regardless of evasive target maneuvers or the deployment of countermeasures.ASRAAM accepts target information via aircraft sensors, such as radar or helmet-mounted sight, but it can also act as an autonomous infrared search and track system. The RAAF has demonstrated successful ‘over the shoulder’ firing in Lock On After Launch (LOAL) mode against target drones that were behind the wing-line of the launch aircraft.The missile has been fully integrated with Eurofighter Typhoon, Tornado, and F/A-18. Now, ASRAAM is also being integrated into the F-35 Lightning II.The IR missiles, also known as fire-and-forget, will enable Jaguars to successfully engage various types of combat aircraft, transport platforms as well as cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.The project will involve studying the Jaguar’s existing DARIN-III avionics, developing technical specifications, modifying the existing software, airframe, and wing pylons, conducting ground and flight trials, and final certification.Jaguars – Penetrate Deep, Strike Hard-The IAF’s Anglo-French Sepecat Jaguar deep penetration strike aircraft are one of its primary strike jets in the combat fleet. Out of the 140 aircraft acquired initially, 125 remain in service.Inducted into the IAF some four decades back, it has undergone multiple upgrades in its avionics and weapons, keeping it relevant in its role for the IAF.
Jaguar-Jets-A French Air Force Jaguar A/E Fighter-Bomber aircraft flies a refueling mission over the Adriatic Sea, in support of Operation JOINT FORGE.India is the sole remaining Jaguar operator, with other users—France, the UK, Oman, Nigeria, and Ecuador—having retired them. India has adopted Jaguar fighter-bombers to deliver nuclear gravity bombs, making them an essential part of its nuclear triad.The IAF had procured 31 decommissioned Jaguar airframes from France with the purchase of Rafale, to cannibalize them for their spares and ensure the serviceability of its aircraft.Jaguars have played an important role in various conflicts in India. During Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka and the 1999 Kargil War, the aircraft conducted reconnaissance missions. The photo-recce missions conducted during the Kargil War along the Line of Control helped bomb enemy positions using precision munitions.In the 1970s, forty of these aircraft were imported from the UK, and thereafter, the public-sector aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) licensed produced these aircraft in India until 2007. Since then, the fighters have undergone three major upgrades, the latest one being DARIN III.The DARIN III includes an open-system architecture mission computer, multi-functional displays, an engine and flight instrument system, a new fire control radar, a geodetic height correction system, and an inertial navigation system with satellite navigation.The DARIN III Jaguars have also been equipped with the Israeli EL/M-2052, giving it an improved defensibility against electronic warfare jamming. By having multiple transceiver modules (TRM), each transmitting in a different radio frequency, the EL/M-2052 also has a lower probability-of-intercept of enemy radar warning receivers.undefined-A pair of Indian Air Force Jaguars flying in formation besides a pair of Indian Navy Sea Harriers and a pair of U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets, flying over the Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Virat during Exercise Malabar. Via: Wikipedia-In other words, the Jaguar DARIN III would be more difficult to detect and jam.EL/M-2052 is an advanced multi-mode radar capable of air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-sea tracking, targeting, and engagement. Elta has not disclosed the radar’s range or the number of targets it can track and simultaneously engage.However, the most important component of the aircraft, its engine, has yet to undergo upgradation. The aircraft, powered by two Rolls-Royce Adour Mk 811 turbofan engines, is underpowered. A more powerful engine is required to push its flight envelope and allow it to operate at high altitudes.The aircraft keeps losing thrust with time and has lowered capacity by 15-20 percent due to an antiquated engine that needs replacement due to substantial wear and tear. As previously noted by the EurAsian Times, the aircraft is also under-equipped to carry out its combat missions effectively.The Jaguar fleet has no specified airframe calendar life and is only based on the Fatigue Index. Based on the individual aircraft operational exploitation of the fleet, it is believed that it has an approximate residual of 10-15 years of airframe life.The IAF aims to replace these aircraft with the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-2.Ritu Sharma has been a journalist for over a decade, writing on defense, foreign affairs, and nuclear technology.The author can be reached at ritu.sharma (at) mail.com-Follow EurAsian Times on Google News
India’s 3rd Nuke-Powered Submarine Spotted In Satellite Image; ‘Nuclear Triad’ Bolstered Amid China Threats-By Ritu Sharma - April 17, 2024
With an eye on China, India has been bolstering its military capabilities. In line with this, it launched its third indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSBN) in 2021.The latest satellite imagery showed the extended nuclear submarine, codenamed S-4, underlining the possibility that it has already been inducted into the Indian Navy.Satellite imagery taken at the outer dry deck of the secretive Ship Building Centre (SCB) in Visakhapatnam shows S-4 (the third Arihant-class SSBN) along with two of its predecessors.The Launch tubes are visible in the image, and the submarine will be able to carry twice the number of submarine-launched ballistic missiles than the previous iteration of the Arihant class submarines.The S-4 submarine is expected to have K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missiles with a 3500-kilometer range. The S4 and S4* are expected to be fitted with K-4 missiles. The need for long-range submarine-launched missiles corresponds to the increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.The K-15 missiles fitted on INS Arihant have a range of 750 km, which is woefully short of hitting anything significant in China, which is currently a prime adversary for India.Even in a conflict with Pakistan, it would only have targets within its range in the south of the country. These are the first indigenously developed short-range submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).One of the big challenges in the sea leg of nuclear deterrence is that an underwater vertical launch system is among the most sophisticated and complex weapons since it demands stability, speed, and accuracy in two mediums—water and atmosphere.The induction of S-4 will greatly boost India’s nuclear deterrence. The lack of at least three operational submarines means that the submarines are primarily in and out of the harbor without maintaining constant nuclear deterrence. So far, India had two nuclear-powered ballistic submarines (SSBNs) dubbed Advanced Technology Vessels (ATV). The first of these two is S2 (INS Arihant) and S3 (INS Arighat).Only China has SSBNs in the Indian neighborhood. These have been deployed in the past for “counter-piracy patrols” off the east coast of Africa. However, Chinese anti-submarine warfare is in a nascent stage.Given the threat assessment for India, SSBN promises a guarantee of survivability of nuclear retaliatory capability. With its long coastlines and peninsula, the SSBNs can remain hidden in ocean depths during the conflict to ensure the survival of second-strike capability.“For nuclear deterrence, one submarine always needs to be on patrol. If Arihant is in and out of the harbor, it is not exactly a deterrent,” an Indian Navy officer told the EurAsian Times. “We need 3-4 SSBNs so we can keep one on patrol when one may be in port, one going for patrol, and one coming back,” he explained.Buttressing his point, the officer referred to 52 years of Continuous Sea Deterrent (CASD), the UK’s longest sustained military operation ever. “If one cannot sustain it, it is hardly a deterrence,” the officer concluded.In 2021, India quietly launched the yet-to-be-christened S-4 SSBN. British publication Janes reported on December 29, 2021, that S4 was launched on November 23 and had been ‘relocated’ to near the ‘fitting-out wharf’ that was presently occupied by INS Arighat, the second such nuclear-armed missile submarine.The British publication further reported that satellite imagery had confirmed that at 7,000 tonnes, the S4 SSBN was ‘slightly larger,’ with a load water line measurement of 125.4m compared with 111.6m of the 6,000-tonne INS Arihant, the lead boat in this class. It categorized the S4 – and successive boats – as ‘Arihant-stretch’ variants.The first indigenous submarine, INS Arihant, is a 6,000-ton ship powered by an 83 MW pressurized light water reactor (PWR) fuelled with enriched Uranium. It is 110 meters long with an 11-meter-wide beam and can travel up to 24 knots underwater.INS Arihant, the first indigenous SSBN, was launched in 2009 and commissioned in 2016. In November 2019, INS Arihant completed its first deterrence patrol. The Indian government announced the establishment of the country’s “survivable nuclear triad”—the capability to launch nuclear strikes from land, air, and sea platforms.INS Arihant is a technology demonstrator and an achievement for the Indian indigenization program. When the ATV was involved in an accident in 2017, India had no nuclear triad.Making Indian Nuclear Deterrence Credible-In case of a nuclear conflict, the highest level of survivability lies with equipping nuclear-powered submarines with ballistic missiles with sufficient ranges. Since the submarine-launched ballistic missile first came into being, it has been considered the most survivable delivery system, as ocean depths remain opaque to a large extent.INDIA SUBMARINE NAVY-The Western Seaboard witnessed eight submarines operating together in a recently concluded exercise in the Arabian Sea, demonstrating their high levels of Op Readiness. Image for Representation-A US nuclear submarine captain described the American Polaris submarine as “an extremely survivable assured capability that the Soviets knew they could not destroy and knew if they conducted a first strike, that system would someday be available to retaliate.It might take some time to get the message to them from a destroyed national headquarters, but someday, the missile warheads would come raining in, and they would pay the price.”India has a ‘no first use’ policy when it comes to nuclear weapons. A country needs the invulnerable second-strike capability that SSBNs give. In that sense, INS Arihant is a technology demonstrator.The Indian Project to build a credible nuclear deterrence has been shrouded in secrecy since its inception. As India realized its goal to operate an SSBN with the help of Russian aid, it gained experience operating a nuclear-powered submarine leased from Russia.To make the sub-surface arm of India’s nuclear triad pack more punch, India has been working on getting more SSBNs and SLBMs with greater range.The first two SSBNs, the Arihant and the Arighat, were deficient in this respect as they only carried the relatively short-range K-15 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), though they can reportedly also accommodate four K-4 longer-range missiles. The K-15 has a range of only 750 kilometers, which is insufficient to target China from the Bay of Bengal.In 2023, India tested its nuclear-capable K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile with a strike range of 3,500 km twice a week. The missile was test-fired from an undersea platform in the shape of a submersible pontoon off the coast of Andhra Pradesh. The test demonstrated the missile’s capability to emerge from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory.Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India bridge the gap with China, which has SLBMs with a range of over 5,000 kilometers. The K-4 missiles will be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range.Ritu Sharma has been a journalist for over a decade, writing on defense, foreign affairs, and nuclear technology. The author can be reached at ritu.sharma (at) mail.com
Pearl Harbor 2.0: China-Taiwan War To Drag NATO In Conflict; Fully Armed US Cannot Thwart Attack On Hawaii? By Sakshi Tiwari -
April 17, 2024
As concerns over a Chinese invasion of Taiwan intensify, a paper released on April 15 by the NATO Defense College has warned NATO could become involved in a potential conflict involving Taiwan if fighting extends to US territory in the Pacific.The report, “NATO and a Taiwan contingency,” from the research and education center located in Rome, is academic research and not an official stand of the European security bloc. However, analysts believe that since there isn’t much research about Taiwan’s position vis-a-vis NATO, it could be useful for strategic planning within the alliance.James Lee, an assistant research fellow at Taiwan’s Academia Sinica’s Institute of European and American Studies, authored the report. It comes at a time when China has become more confrontational in its rhetoric against American military assurances to Taiwan.Adm. John C. Aquilino, the outgoing head of INDOPACOM (the United States Indo-Pacific Command is the unified combatant command of the United States Armed Forces responsible for the Indo-Pacific region), recently warned: “All indications point to the (Chinese) PLA (People’s Liberation Army) meeting President Xi Jinping’s directive to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027,” Aquilino said. “The PLA’s actions indicate their ability to meet Xi’s preferred timeline to unify Taiwan with mainland China by force if directed.”Any attack on Taiwan is believed to draw the United States and its regional allies, including Japan, into the conflict. In his analysis, Lee looks at whether China’s military attack would activate Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which states that an attack on one NATO member is an attack on all of them.Referring to the islands that connect Japan’s Okinawa to Taiwan and the Philippines, the report states that “a trigger for Article 5 is unlikely if hostilities are confined to the immediate vicinity of Taiwan or the First Island Chain.” However, the analysis also looks at what may happen in a conflict that results in a Chinese attack on American military facilities in Hawaii.Many have argued that NATO’s obligations regarding collective defense do not apply to Hawaii and the US territory of Guam because Article 6 of the treaty restricts its application to member countries’ territory “in Europe or North America…or on the islands under the jurisdiction of any of the parties in the North Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer.”Lee quoted the UN Statistics Division’s definition of North America, which states that “the whole of the United States” is included, but claimed that the Pacific region was not yet officially recognized.Nonetheless, the report says that Article 5 may be used depending on how Hawaii is defined, but even in that case, “the scope of action on the part of the allies would be relatively limited.”Lee predicted that Washington would either push NATO to impose sanctions on China or ask nations with an Indo-Pacific presence – like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Canada – to assist American regional operations. In the report, the researcher suggested creating a Taiwan contingency plan between the United States and NATO to prevent “a window of vulnerability in Europe.”Hawaii Will Not Receive NATO’s Backing-Hawaii is a US territory in the Pacific that houses some major military outposts in the region, including the Pearl Harbor naval base and the headquarters of the US Indo-Pacific Command, which overlooks adversaries like China and North Korea. It is, however, unprotected – unlike the other 49 states that make up the United States of America.If an attack were launched on this strategic US territory, the members of the US-led NATO would not be legally obligated to defend Hawaii.The United States, for example, would be required to defend Sweden – which recently joined the alliance — if Russia bombed the state. However, Sweden and 30 other NATO partners would not be legally required to protect Hawaii if an enemy such as China or Russia struck Pearl Harbor.Hawaii residents are unaware that they are not protected by the collective defense clause enjoyed by NATO partners, according to David Santoro, president of the Pacific Forum, the group in Honolulu. CNN recently quoted Santoro as saying, “It’s the weirdest thing.”“People tend to assume Hawaii is part of the US and therefore it’s covered by NATO,” he noted. Although Hawaii is technically the 50th state of the United States of America, it does not enjoy the same privileges as the other states. “The argument for not including Hawaii is simply that it’s not part of North America,” Santoro says.The Washington Treaty, which established NATO ten years before Hawaii’s statehood, clarified the exclusion.According to a US State Department spokesman, Article 4 should apply to any situation that would affect the 50th state because it stipulates that members will consult when “the territorial integrity, political independence or security” of any member is threatened. Hawaii, however, is not covered by Article 5.NATO China-Experts assume that a consensus would not be reached for any treaty change that added Hawaii since several other members also possess territory outside of the bounds outlined in Article 5.For instance, in 1982, even though the United Kingdom was one of NATO’s founding members, NATO chose not to intervene in the conflict when Argentine troops invaded the Falkland Islands, a disputed British territory in the South Atlantic. Therefore, NATO would not automatically intervene if Hawaii came under assault in an armed conflict between the US and China.This becomes more problematic in light of the US enemies’ growing military might and the obvious expansion of their stockpile of long-range conventional and nuclear missiles that are capable of striking and destroying a significant US military installation in the area in a single blow.It is understood that, even in the absence of NATO cover, the US territories of Guam and Hawaii would be essential for beginning military operations in any such Indo-Pacific war.Defense analysts speculate that China would want to quickly win a war against the United States, emulating Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II. Going ahead, Beijing can give it a modern twist by unleashing a massive “bolt-from-the-blue attack” that has the potential to destroy the majority of the military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific area.The New York Post claimed that even if the US military relocated every missile defense system it has stationed in Asia, the PLA’s missile buildup in the Indo-Pacific area is so extensive and potent that the US won’t be able to thwart China’s Pearl Harbor-style attack.Essentially, Hawaii’s exclusion from NATO and the possibility of a Russian assault intended to destroy the US in the event of a very large-scale battle means that the state no longer has “an element of deterrence” against a Chinese strike in support of a future Taiwan campaign.On the other hand, some analysts think that a confrontation involving Chinese attacks on Hawaii would eventually result in an American response, which would spark a full-scale battle between the two countries. Thus, NATO would unavoidably become involved in the fight if China attacked the United States on its continental territory.Whatever analysts might say, the study suggests that a confrontation involving China, on the one hand, and NATO, on the other, may not particularly be a germane idea but is also not too far-fetched, especially as Chinese aggression against Taiwan continues to gain momentum.Contact the author at sakshi.tiwari9555(at)gmail.com-Follow EurAsian Times on Google News
SM-6 Missiles: China Warns US Of Consequences Over Deployment Of ‘Typhon’ System In Its Backyard-By Sakshi Tiwari - April 25, 2024
Earlier this month, the United States dispatched a ‘deadly’ intermediate-range missile system to the Philippines for military drills. The move has caused whirlwinds in China, which has vowed countermeasures against what it considers an unprecedented and provocative move.Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesperson Wu Qian warned at a press briefing on April 25 that the US deployment of an intermediate missile system in the Asia-Pacific could prompt China to respond with decisive measures.“We resolutely oppose the US move to deploy intermediate-range ballistic missiles in the Asia-Pacific. Our position has been clear and consistent. US steps are posing a major threat to the security and stability of regional players and will inevitably prompt a decisive response from China,” he warned.The US Army Pacific announced in mid-April that for the first time, the US has stationed the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system, or the Typhon, in the northern Philippines. The system is unique and lethal as it is capable of firing both Tomahawk and Standard Missile 6 (SM-6).The deployment took place from Lewis McChord Air Force Base on April 7 to participate in Exercise Salaknib 24. The US kicked off the drills with the Philippines, a seasoned ally in the region, on April 8. It is noteworthy that the deployment was planned well in advance and was not an impulsive measure.The first Indo-Pacific deployment of the 🇺🇸 Army’s Typhon is in 🇵🇠Northern Luzon under Exercise Salaknib 2024. Operated by the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, the ground-based missile launcher is capable of long-range fires via its Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-6.📸 USARPAC pic.twitter.com/E7XAIsQWTq — Aaron-Matthew Lariosa (@Aaron_MatthewIL) April 15, 2024-Earlier, General Charles Flynn, the commanding general of the US Army Pacific, confirmed the potential deployment of a new medium-range missile launcher during a media briefing held at the US Embassy in Tokyo on April 3.“I’m not going to discuss what system, and I’m not going to say where and when. I’m just saying that there will be a long-range precision fire capability that will come to the region,” General Flynn said at the time.China, on its part, has carried out a relentless build-up of powerful missiles capable of targeting US military installations. However, it has accused the US of militarising the region and turning into an anti-China clique to counter the country’s rising influence.It has gone so far as to insinuate that the US is using Manila as a pawn in its great power rivalry with China, currently unfolding in the Asia Pacific.Typhon weapon system-Shortly after the US announced Typhon’s arrival in the Philippines, the Chinese state-owned Global Times carried a report stating, “If the US is the absolute master of anything, it is the art of persuading others to willingly serve as its cannon fodder. At this very moment, the US is speeding up its effort to send the Philippines into the line of fire.”The deployment has caused unrest in the region. It comes in the wake of rising tensions between China and the Philippines, which remain marred in territorial disputes in the South China Sea.While China has remained embroiled in an active territorial conflict with Manila for more than a decade, it has become particularly belligerent in recent times, frequently engaging and attacking the Filipino Coast Guard vessels and civilian ships.The United States has offered unconditional support to the Philippines against Chinese aggression in the region. US President Joe Biden recently told Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that their alliance was ironclad and emphasized that their mutual defense treaty covered attacks on the Filipino military forces.“Any attack on Philippine aircraft, vessels, or armed forces in the South China Sea would invoke our mutual defense treaty,” Biden said.This explains heightened Chinese anxieties regarding the deployment of the system.SM-6 missile-China Is Furious With Typhon In Its Backyard-The Typhon system can launch various missiles, including the Tomahawk cruise missile, which has a range exceeding 1,600 kilometers, and the new SM-6 interceptor missile. The Typhon can fire a Tomahawk to obliterate a target on land or at sea.Additionally, the SM-6 installed on Typhon is designed to be used mainly as a short-range ballistic missile against land and sea targets. The Army has described it as a “strategic” weapon system that would be used against more important targets such as air defense facilities and command and control centers.The deployment of the system is significant for multiple reasons. First, all land-based missiles, conventional and nuclear, with a range of 500-5,500 kilometers, were forbidden under the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) between the US and the former Soviet Union.However, in 2019, the US withdrew from the INF, and the US Army and Marine Corps immediately began large-scale efforts to develop entirely new medium-range missiles. With a military confrontation between China and the United States looming big, these missile systems are now regarded as viable weapons against China in the Indo-Pacific.Some media reports and military watchers suggest that the system could be deployed in Luzon for military drills. Northern Luzon is situated along the first island chain that divides mainland Asia from the Pacific. The system was stationed in this location for the Salaknib drills.In addition to the whole Strait of Luzon, the Chinese shoreline and several PLA bases in the South China Sea are also within the firing range of Typhon’s missiles. The US Army had previously stated that it would ship one of its Typhon systems overseas this year, but it had not specified where.Reports suggest that the United States is investigating the permanent deployment of this system to the Indo-Pacific region, although the details are currently sketchy. The Typhon would give the US military greater flexibility and options to hit targets on land, at sea, and in the air throughout the vast expanses of the Indo-Pacific area in any hypothetical higher-end battle, especially against China.Moreover, this strategic move is poised to serve as a vital deterrent against potential threats posed by China’s military advancements. This is essentially why the deployment of the system has enraged China.Contact the author at sakshi.tiwari9555(at)gmail.com-Follow EurAsian Times on Google News
500,000 visitors, 1 million social media followers per month-Iran duped Pakistan into Israel nuke threat as tiny part of huge fakery campaign
Investigation by Reuters finds over 70 news sites in 15 countries, with over a million online followers, have been disseminating pro-Tehran misinformation and propaganda for years-By ToI Staff 30 November 2018, 10:37 pm
An incident in 2016, when Pakistan’s defense minister threatened Israel with nuclear attack in the wake of what turned out to be a fake news story, has been revealed to be just one small instance of an Iran-based global disinformation campaign that has been running for six years and has included dozens of news and media outlets.According to an extensive Reuters investigation published Friday, over 70 news sites have been spreading disinformation and pushing a pro-Tehran narrative in 15 countries, as part of a widespread and sophisticated online campaign to influence public option all over the world.The investigation directly tied the sites to Iran, but not to the Iranian government itself. “They look like normal news and media outlets, but only a couple disclose any Iranian ties,” Reuters noted. “They have published in 16 different languages, from Azerbaijani to Urdu.”According to the Reuters piece, headlined “How Iran spreads disinformation around the world,” the Iran-linked news and media sites it uncovered draw more than half a million visitors a month, and are served by social media accounts with over a million followers.It said journalists, cybersecurity experts and social media firms are only now starting to uncover the scope of the Iranian influence campaign. The report revealed a number of news sites targeting audiences across the Middle East and North Africa with pro-Iranian propaganda, often times alongside authentic news stories, some dating back to 2012.The Reuters investigation established that the news agency called “Another Western Dawn,” which duped the Pakistani defense minister into issuing a nuclear threat against Israel in December 2016, is linked to Iran.At the time, Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif threatened Israel in response to what he thought was a threat, falsely reported by AWDnews.com, ostensibly issued by then defense minister Moshe Ya’alon to use nuclear force if Pakistan sent troops to Syria.The AWDnews article was headlined, “Israeli Defense Minister: If Pakistan send ground troops to Syria on any pretext, we will destroy this country with a nuclear attack.”It falsely quoted Ya’alon saying: “As far as we are concerned,that is a threat,if, by misfortune, they arrive in Syria, we will know what to do,we will destroy them with a nuclear attack.”The Pakistani minister tweeted: “Israeli def min threatens nuclear retaliation presuming pak role in Syria against Daesh. Israel forgets Pakistan is a Nuclear state too.” (“Daesh” is an acronym for Islamic State.)-Israel’s Defense Ministry quickly issued a statement making clear that the AWDnews story was false, and Asif was roundly criticized by Pakistani officials for responding to it.AWDnews offers content in English, French, Spanish and German. According to data from web analytics data, its website receives around 12,000 monthly visitors.Reuters said politicians in Britain, Jordan, India and the Netherlands, as well as human-rights activists, an Indian music composer and a Japanese rap star, have all shared bogus AWDnews stories in the past.In 2014, Israel’s then-finance minister Yair Lapid quoted a AWDnews story that falsely attributed pro-Israeli statements to Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal.Al-Faisal’s remarks were quoted by several media outlets in Israel, though regional policy experts confirmed to The Times of Israel at the time that the Saudi foreign minister never made any such statement in public.The AWDnews site regularly fabricates reports about Israel and the Muslim world, including reports claiming Israel orchestrated the conflict in Ukraine and that the Mossad is closely tied to the Islamic State jihadist group.Reuters said it traced the dozens of disinformation sites back to Iran by their various links to the International Union of Virtual Media (IUVM). The report said some websites carry stories, videos and cartoons supplied by the Tehran-headquartered IUVM, while others, which make no mention of the agency, list IVUM contact information in their website’s online registration’s records.On its website, IUVM lists among its goals: “Confronting with remarkable arrogance, western governments and Zionism front activities to correct the deflection of people movements in world,” and “Explaining the importance of Palestine and Quds issue to Internet audience.” Quds is the Arabic name for Jerusalem.The majority of IUVM-linked sites target readers in Yemen, where Iran and Saudi Arabia have been fighting a proxy war, according to the report. The sites also target audiences in Syria, Egypt, Pakistan and Afghanistan.Emails sent to IVUM bounced back, Reuters said, and all phone numbers provided by the agency were not in service. Other news outlets carrying IUVM content were also found to have bogus addresses and phone numbers.Reuters said its investigation found that the sites “clearly support Iran’s government and amplify antagonism to countries opposed to Tehran — particularly Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States.”Noted Reuters: “The identity or location of the past owners of some of the websites is visible in historical Internet registration records: 17 of 71 sites have in the past listed their locations as Iran or Tehran, or given an Iranian telephone or fax number. But who owns them now is often hidden.”Twice in 2018, social media firms have removed accounts, groups or pages linked to a stealth influence campaign out of Iran.In October, Facebook said it took down accounts linked to an Iranian effort to influence US and British politics with messages about charged topics such as immigration and race relations.The social network identified 82 pages, groups and accounts that originated in Iran and violated policy on coordinated “inauthentic” behavior. It carried out an even broader sweep in August, removing 652 pages, groups and accounts linked to both Iran or Russia. IUVM’s Facebook page was removed in the August sweep.In addition to Facebook, in recent months Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Google have removed accounts that were found to be linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting as part of a misinformation campaign dating back to at least January 2017.
