The Guardian (London) January 29, 2005
US jets flying over Iran to spot targets, says source
In-Depth Coverage
By Julian Borger in Washington
The US is increasing the pressure on Iran by sending military planes
into its airspace to test the country's defences and spot potential
targets, according to an intelligence source in Washington.
The overflights have been reported in the Iranian press and the head
of Iran's air force, Brigadier General Karim Qavami, declared recently
that he had ordered his anti-aircraft batteries to shoot down any
intruders, but there have been no reports of any Iranian missiles
being launched.
"The idea is to get the Iranians to turn on their radar, to get an
assessment of their air defences," an intelligence source in
Washington said. He said the flights were part of the Pentagon's
contingency planning for a possible attack on sites linked to Iran's
suspected nuclear weapons programme.
"It make sense to get a look at their air defences, and it makes the
mullahs nervous during the EU negotiations (over the suspension of
Iranian uranium enrichment)," said John Pike, the head of
GlobalSecurity.org, an independent military research group.
The flights come after reports of American special forces incursions
into Iran. However, former US intelligence officials have said they
believe the incursions are being carried out by Iranian rebels drawn
from the anti-Tehran rebel group, the Mujahedin-e-Khalq, under US
supervision.
The US military denied the reports. "We're not flying over frigging
Iran," an official said, suggesting Tehran was making up the incidents
to attract international sympathy.
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