Israel Demonstrates Its 1800 km Air Attack in the Sudan
On October 24th, after midnight, four Israeli (suspected) jet aircraft and penetrated the Sudanese airspace and evaded their less sophisticated radar and destroyed 70% of an Iranian weapons factory (operated by the Republican Guard) in Khartoum, Sudan, which was not only making weapons for Hamas but producing Shehab missiles. The weapon manufacturing site, Yarmouk, has a license from Iran to build the surface to surface missile under their guidance (which accounts why many Iranians are in the city). The missiles are built as part as Iran's reserve should Iran come under attack.
The four aircraft attack is very significant because it shows Iran that they flew 1,800-1,900 kilometers to reach the Sudanese arms factory, a distance longer than the 1,600 kilometers to the Iranian underground enrichment site of Fordo. Obviously, the IDF have good air refueling capabilities for such small attacks, but an attack on Iran might use 100 planes and the IDF has only eight air refuelers. The IDF possess second to none, the best radar jammers in their aircraft and while the Sudanese air defenses are much lesser than Iran's, the Sudanese were totally shocked by the night raid. Sudanese officials state that an analysis of rocket debris and other material on the ground had shown that Israel was behind the attack. Sudan has been a major hub for al-Qaida militants and a transit for weapon smugglers and African migrant traffickers. In Iraq, of all places, a number of Israeli warplanes were seen at al-Asad base in Iraq, according to a prominent Iraqi cleric in Muqtada al-Sader’s group. The aircraft reportedly included F-15, F-16, F-18, F-22, and KC-10 jet fighters. If true, Iraq and Israel would be a real "odd couple".
In January and February of 2009 there were two mysterious air attacks on convoys in the Sudanese desert, both pointed to Israel. When the Israeli government was asked about the air attacks their only response was, "no comment". Iran has between 300-400 Shehab missiles that could reach Israel, however, Israel as its own rocket interceptor, the Arrow, which has proven to be successful at destroying incoming missiles.
Sudan said it would retaliate at date with the help of Iran.
