Reports of air strikes by ‘unidentified’ aircrafts on Yarmouk manufacturing weapons plant in Khartoum on October 23, 2012, has raised a question mark on the ability of Omar al-Bashir in defending Sudanese sovereignty. However the incident is also a question that is interesting to investigate, Israel has once again been accused of launching secret war operations or a covert war against Khartoum after Sudan openly conducting a strategic defense partnership with Tehran. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) air-strikes can reach distances of up to 1900 km to Khartoum, and there is also the possibility that the IDF is capable of launching air strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities at any time.
The development of strategic cooperation between Iran and Sudan began on March 2008, when Sudan received a delegation from Iran to further discuss military cooperation between these two countries. On March 7th (in the same year), the two sides signed an agreement on bilateral defense cooperation and, as a strategic move to mobilize regional peace and stability. In addition, such cooperation also noted as a break through the restrictions by UNSC on Sudan including economic sanctions and arms embargo. Furthermore, this is also seen as an opportunity for Iran to ‘survive’ amid the Western sanctions over arms export activities.
Omar al-Bashir. Image credit: Sebastian Baryli
Israeli media reported that Sudan in the past few years was suspected to function as a ‘key transit point’ for Iran arms shipments to the Gaza Strip. The report claimed that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers (IRGC) will deploy missile equipment and some advanced weapons onto ships docked at Bandar Abbas port before the ship heads to Sudan. Through Sudan, the weapons will be smuggled into Egypt, then, brought into Gaza through smuggling tunnels in the Sinai region. This is a great threat to Israel, when the weapons were smuggled for Hamas fighters in Gaza. Although, Operation Pillar of Defense killed more than 150 civilians including Hamas senior military commander, Ahmed Jabari, a short-range missile ‘Fajr-5’ attack was an unexpected greater threat to Israel.
Sudan acting as a key transit point for weapon shipments was used as a justification for Israel to launch an attack on a convoy which was believed to have been carrying arms from Iran to the north-east of Sudan, which killed two lives in April 2011, and this is also urging Israeli warships to intercept any ship that is suspected of carrying weapons belonging to Iran to Gaza. Iran-Sudan defense cooperation has raised suspicions of Tehran’s probability to set up plants that are manufacturing weapons in the Sudan since it is much easier due to the shorter distance (into Gaza through Sinai, Egypt) and Iran expected that the Israeli threat will not be able to reach other countries.
Israelis attitude highlights the realism approach – ‘balance of power’ theory and IDF air strikes on other countries are not a new controversial issue. In 1981, Israel blindly attack the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak, this operation was named Operation Opera. Based on the context of theory, military action by Israel was to ensure the Saddam’s strength did not exceed the limit that could affect the security of Israel and the IDF will also ensure that the struggle for military power is balanced. Either air strikes against Iraq or Sudan, it is an unacceptable action by Tel Aviv which blatantly violates another countries air space and abusing the rights of self – defense that is not in compliance with the procedures agreed via international charter. This incident actually tries to put the effectiveness of UN roles under serious scrutiny whether it just simply be condemning or just to remain silent in this case.
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A biased and out of date article with no new detail and little to say of interest. The author shows his naivety.
Thanks for comment.