Iran TV Claims Israeli Warplanes Massing In Iraq For Attack

Unlikely Report Is Denied By Israel And Pentagon

ranian state television ran a report on Monday saying Israeli military aircraft were massing at a U.S. air base in Iraq for a strike on Iran.

The report appeared on the website of Press TV. Israel said it had no knowledge of such a strike plan, and both the Pentagon and Iraq's air force commander have denied the Iranian report.

The Iranian media quoted what it said was a source close to the movement of Moqtada al-Sadr, an Iraqi Shi'ite cleric who opposes the U.S. presence in Iraq, and has close ties to Iran's Shia power structure. 

Israel accuses Tehran of using its declared civilian nuclear reactor program to conceal a plan to develop atomic bombs that would threaten the Jewish state, and Israeli leaders have not ruled out military action against Iran. There has been, however, no recent indication of increased tensions and no other information is available that would corroborate the Iranian television report.

Iraqi air force commander Staff Lieutenant General Anwar Ahmed rejected the report as "groundless."

The United States and its Western allies suspect Iran is using its nuclear energy program as a cover to build bombs. Iran denies the allegation, insisting it needs nuclear technology to generate more electricity. Iran has repeatedly warned that it would strike Israeli nuclear targets if Israel attacked its nuclear activities.

Iran does not recognize Israel, which it calls the "Zionist regime." Israel, believed to be the only nuclear-armed country in the Middle East, bombed Iraq's only nuclear reactor to rubble in 1981 when Saddam Hussein was in power in Baghdad.

Editor's Note: Although it is likely the Iranian claims are greatly exaggerated, the paranoia of Tehran is a product of their own worldview. The leaders of Iran, notably Mahmoud Amadhinejad, has repeatedly stated he believes Iran will be pivotal in the desired destruction of their hated foe, the nation-state of Israel. He has further stated a holocaust will occur, and it will usher in the arrival of the Mahdi -- the Islamic Saviour-figure.

Further, it is painfully obvious that Tehran is lying concerning their nuclear ambitions. Thus, the fear and loathing of Israel's potential pre-emptive strike on Iran's weapons program is a product of Iran's own religious and political announcements -- statements which are fueled by religious extremism coupled with the technical know-how needed to produce the hideous weapons which could indeed set the entire Middle East on fire.

With practically the entire Moslem world already in huge disarray, one miscalculation could be disastrous.

For more on the emerging Judaeo-Christian belief the Antichrist will be an Islamic figure seen in the Moslem world as the Mahdi, listen to the short audio on THE ISLAMIC ANTICHRIST.