September 6, 2007: Israel launched Operation Orchard, a secret military operation designed to destroy a Syrian nuclear reactor in the Deir ez-Zor region of Syria, the 2nd known time Israel acted unilaterally to destroy an Arab nuclear reactor.
THREAD
#Israel
#OTD
@yaakovkatz
THREAD
#Israel
#OTD
@yaakovkatz
1/ In March 2007, the Mossad undertook a secret raid in Vienna, which targeted the head of Syria's Atomic energy Commission. With the information gleaned from the operation, the Israelis discovered that Syria had been working with North Korea to build a nuclear reactor.
2/ With information they deemed unimpeachable, the Israelis went to the Americans (notably, @IsraeliPM Ehud Olmert spoke directly with POTUS George W Bush) and told them they discovered that Syria had been building a nuclear reactor.
3/ Over a number of months, after sharing their intel with the Americans, and negotiations with the Americans, the Israelis decided that rather than wait, and let their secret spill out, that they had no choice but to take unilateral action against Syria and destroy the reactor.
4/ This would be a strict adherence to the 1981 "Begin Doctrine", developed when Begin unilaterally destroyed Iraq's Osirak Reactor, showing the world that Israel would not allow an Arab nation in the Middle East to possess nuclear weapons.
6/ Israeli reportedly took over Syrian air defenses, feeding them a false-sky picture for the whole time the jets were over Syrian airspace, until they were safely back in Israel.
7/ When the Israelis approached the site, the jets directed their targeting laser at the facility, and the F-15Is released their bombs. The facility was completely destroyed.
Commandos on the ground at the site were extracted, and every plane made it back to the base.
Commandos on the ground at the site were extracted, and every plane made it back to the base.
8/ Immediately after the bombing, PM Olmert called Turkey's President Erdogan, and told him to relay a message to Syria's Bashar al-Assad: Israel would not tolerate another nuclear plant, but no further action was planned.
9/ Olmert indicated that Israel did not want to play up the incident, and was still interested in peace with Syria, adding that if Syria did not draw attention to the incident, neither would Israel. And that's exactly what happened.
10/ After the attack, Israel maintained total and complete silence about the attack, and Syria covered up its activities there.
Only 11 years later, in March 2018, did Israel break its silence about what happened, and the govt explained the operation.
Only 11 years later, in March 2018, did Israel break its silence about what happened, and the govt explained the operation.
11/ There is so much more about this operation that is absolutely fascinating, and for that we refer you to @yaakovkatz "Shadow Strike: Inside Israel's Secret Mission to Eliminate Syrian Nuclear Power."
amazon.ca/Shadow-Strike-…
amazon.ca/Shadow-Strike-…
