News on Iran (Paras)

The Yalkut Shimoni (midrash, compiled circa 500 c.e.) states:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The year that Melech HaMoshiach will be revealed, all the kings (leaders) of the nations will be struggling against each other. The leader of Persia (Iran) will contest with an Arab leader and the Arab leader will go to Aram (the Western Superpowers) to get council from them.

The leader of Persia will respond and destroy the entire world. All the nations of the world will be trembling and shaking and falling on their faces. They will be seized by pains like labor pains.

The Jewish people will be trembling and quaking and saying: "Where can we go? Where can we go?" And [Moshiach] will say to them: my children, do not fear! Everything I did I did only for you! Why are you frightened? Don't be afraid--the days of your redemption have arrived!

Report: Iran Planning to Attack Gulf States

(IsraelNN.com) The MEMRI organziation has translated an Alarabiya.net report which says that 40,000 well-trained operatives, mostly Shi'ites, are in the service of Iran in the Arab Gulf states - 3,000 in Kuwait alone. The story is based on an interview with an Arab Ahwazi man who says he was a former undercover agent for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

The assessment is in line with an intelligence report from an Iranian regime opposition group. The Ahwazi Islamic Sunni Organization says it has classified Iranian Air Force information that reveals Iran has a comprehensive military plan to attack the Gulf countries using MiG-31 aircraft that it purchased from Syria. It says Iran is preparing secret airports and camps in Ahwaz province, as well as forces in the northwest of the province, in order to attack Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.



Israel, U.S. to Simulate Iranian Missile Attack
(IsraelNN.com) The joint missile defense exercise being prepared by Israel and the United States for next week will involve a mock missile strike by Iran, United Press International reported Tuesday. Air-defense technology and 15 naval vessels have already been deployed by the U.S. to Israel for the Juniper Cobra drill which the two countries conduct every two years since 2000. The exercise help the two nations coordinate their missile and air-defense activities.

The exercise is expected to deliver a "loud and clear" message to Iran, Maariv quoted a high-level Israeli military officer as saying. The drill will be overseen by a senior U.S. Army general and three Patriot missile defense systems may remain in Israel following completion of the exercise.

(See Shirat Devorah for more on Iran here and here.)