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Israeli Patrols in Western Iraq: A Sensitive and Dangerous JobWednesday 02 Oct 2002
author: Jane's Foreign Report
summary
Sayeret Matkal reportedly in western Iraq: Jane's
Israeli patrols in western Iraq: A sensitive and dangerous\job Journal name FOREIGN REPORT JC (FR) Date SEPTEMBER 26, 2002 SO_VL v.000 SO_NO no. 2706
WHILE politicians and media are discussing the prospect of war with Iraq, the Israelis are taking action. Foreign Report has been told exclusively that Israeli special forces are already operating reconnaissance patrols in western Iraq. These operations are carried out secretly by Israel's best-trained commandos, the 'Sayeret Matkal'. Their mission: to find and identify places used by, or likely to be used by, Iraqi Scud missile-launchers.
When the Bush administration confirms our report it is likely to be very displeased. If Israel joins the war against Saddam Hussein alongside the Americans it will complicate the American position vis-a-vis the Arab world. Although the Israelis are sure no Iraqi regime would launch war against them or their Iranian neighbours, they are taking no chances. Our information is that neither Israel nor the United States has a clue about what, if anything, Saddam Hussein is hiding. It was this ignorance that persuaded the prime minister, Ariel Sharon, to assign the Sateret Matkal to a job that is sensitive and dangerous.
Limited launching area
Sayeret Matkal was established in the late 1950s according to the guidelines of the British Special Air Service (SAS). Its most famous commander was Ehud Barak, who later went on to serve as Israel's prime minister. It had not taken part in the crushing of Palestinian revolts against Israeli rule.
Its soldiers are so qualified and well trained for clandestine behind-the-lines operations that some commanders opposed using them in conventional combat. These commanders feared that some members of the unit might be killed by Palestinian sniper fire. However, other military commanders objected and the idea was dropped. Because Iraq's remaining Scud missiles have a limited range, represented by the arrow on the map, below, there are only certain locations where they can be launched and hit Israeli targets, Matkal's mission is to detect early preparations (it takes more than an hour from the time that the order is given to launch a Scud). The Israelis believe the Iraqis have hidden their Scud launchers with great care. Suicide pilots
The Israelis also worry that if the United States launches a pre- emptive strike against Iraq, President Saddam Hussein will launch a counter-strike not against the United States but Israel. And that the missions will be carried out by suicide pilots somewhat similar to Japanese pilots in the Second World War. In the 1990s, say Israeli intelligence sources, Iraqi air force pilots practiced such missions by flying their aircraft from Baghdad to the Israeli border. There is also the question of revenge. The Iraqis have not forgotten the destruction by the Israeli air force of their Osirak nuclear reactor near Baghdad in 1981. The Israelis have not forgotten the 39 Iraqi Scud missiles that were launched against Israel during the Gulf war.
An eye for an eye
Could Iraqi low altitude missiles to reach Israel? A well-placed Israeli source claims that the chances are slim and that "all necessary steps were taken". However, another Israeli source says that since the war with Iran, the Iraqis specialised in low-altitude long-distance flights.
A quick look at the regional map, above, shows that Jordan is a key country for the security of Israel vis-a-vis Iraq. Foreign Report has been told by a usually reliable source that a secret understanding between Jordan and Israel has been reached regarding the prospect of war with Iraq. The understanding is that under certain circumstances the Israeli air force will be allowed to cross the Jordanian airspace on its way to Iraq. special Feature Map