Iran Escalates Israel Confrontation; Threatens to Escort Gaza Blockade Runners

It's about the missiles, stupid:

Iran's elite* Revolutionary Guards are ready to provide a military escort to cargo ships trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, a representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday.

"Iran's Revolutionary Guards naval forces are fully prepared to escort the peace and freedom convoys to Gaza with all their powers and capabilities," Ali Shirazi, Khamenei's representative inside the Revolutionary Guards, was quoted as saying by the semi-official Mehr news agency.

*The word "elite" is used to distinguish these individuals from ordinary Iranian troops who can't wipe their asses without detailed verbal instructions from superiors. The elite troops are literate enough to puzzle out an instruction manual.

I doubt the Israelis would have trouble dealing with Iranian ships attempting to break the blockade. But does Iran even have the force projection capability to challenge Israel by sea? This sounds like an empty boast from the Ayatollah.

It also has the unintended benefit of stripping cover from the "peace activists" and the U.N. Israel has been saying all along that the challenge to the blockade was orchestrated by Iran via useful idiots (read: liberals) from the West. Surprise, surprise, Israel was right.

More: The IDF just released the names of terrorism-linked "peace activists" captured on the Mavi Marmara.

Fatimah Mahmadi (born 1979), is a United States resident of Iranian origin, and an active member of the organization “Viva Palestine”, she attempted to smuggle forbidden electronic components into the Gaza Strip.

Ken O’Keefe (Born 1969), an American and British citizen, is a radical anti-Israel activist and operative of the Hamas Terror organization. He attempted to enter the Gaza Strip in order to form and train a commando unit for the Palestinian terror organization.

Hassan Iynasi (born 1982), a Turkish citizen and activist in a Turkish charity organization, is known of providing financial support to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Terror organization.

Hussein Urosh, a Turkish citizen and activist in the IHH organization, was on his way to the Gaza Strip in order to assist in smuggling Al-Qaeda operatives via Turkey into the Strip.

Ahmad Umimon (born 1959), is a French citizen of Moroccan origin, and an operative of the Hamas Terrorist organization.

I am shocked, shocked that the Iranians would have anything to do with smuggling terrorists into Gaza. Shocked.

posted by Gabriel Malor at 03:16 PM

| Access Comments