The contents of this article, which can be viewed in full at the link below, are summarised here with no endorsement or comment by Thus Magazine or guarantees as to their accuracy, save that, where indicated, attributed sources or comment in the public domain has been checked.

This piece, which contains some elements of conjecture, alleges that 3000 tons of ‘ammunition’ is destined to sail from Greece to Israel to arrive by 31 January. The US have not denied the existence of this shipment. The size and conjectured nature of the shipment make it highly unlikely that this was or is part of the ongoing Gaza ‘operation.’ This adds weight to the growing fear that the assault on Gaza is a prelude to a larger engagement by Israel on one or more fronts with its neighbours, but particularly with Iran. Given that the armaments possesed by Hamas (and Hizbollah) are of a relatively primitive order, and their defences scarcely merit ‘bunker-buster’ uranium-tipped missiles (especially at this stage of the operation) the article speculates that this ‘unusually large’ consignment of heavy ‘ammunition’ is destined for an Israeli attack on Iran. The US has allegedly refused support for an Israeli attack on Iran, stating as recently as September 2008 that Israel would need to give ‘prior warning’ before attacking Iran and that Israeli warplanes flying through Iraqi airspace en route to Iran would run the risk of being shot down by US forces. However, Iraqi President Nouri Al-Maliki would now make that call, were it deemed necessary to do do, drawing Iraq into conflict with Iran, were one to arise.

The article also claims that in early January 2009, the Pentagon dispatched over 100 military personnel to Israel from US European Command (EUCOM) to assist in setting up a new sophisticated X-band early warning radar system, part of the military aid package to Israel approved by the Pentagon in September 2008, and is designed to track and destroy missiles from Iran. Meanwhile, Russia has recently opened talks to supply its trading partner, Iran, with S-300 surface-to-air missiles, opening up the real prospect of a new cold war should Israel proceed with its actions, which will require US approval, notwithstanding the ‘independent’ status of Iraq since the US controls the missile defence system and is supplying the armaments.

The entire article may be read here: Global Research, January 11, 2009.

To repeat: Thus Magazine takes no responsibility for the accuracy of its content.