BREAKING: Israel Downed Iranian President’s Helicopter Well-informed Israeli security source confirms it targeted Raisi
מקור ביטחוני ישראלי מרמז : ישראל התנקשה בנשיא איראן כנקמה על מתקפת הטילים על ישראל
A Hezbollah-affiliated journalist, Elijah Magnier, has raised the possibility that Israel may have caused the crash which took the life of Pres. Ebrahim Raisi, the foreign minister, and other high level officials: Did the Iranian President’s Helicopter Crash or Get Shot Down? He did not make a definitive statement on the cause. But for a journalist closely allied with Iran to speculate that Israel may have caused the crash, is a clear indication that Iran is taking this possibility seriously.
Magnier’s article did pique my interest, and I pursued the question with an Israeli security source. He confirmed that Israel was responsible. He used a phrase that all but confirms it: “Any head of state ordering an attack on Israel signs his own death sentence.” This likely refers to the massive Iranian missile-drone attack on Israel several weeks ago.
Two main factors weaken the possibility of pilot error or helicopter malfunction. Raisi’s military pilot was highly experienced. Also, the other two helicopters in the convoy successfully reached their destination. All three were in radio contact. If weather had hampered the pilot, he could have communicated this and sent a distress signal. He apparently did not.
The source added that it was “no accident” that Raisi was killed after returning from a dam-opening ceremony with Azerbaijan’s leader, Ilham Aliyev. He is implying that Azerbaijan played a role in the killing. It’s well-known that Israel maintains a massivesurveillance presence there. It has Mossad agents, forward listening posts and even airbases. All directed at Iran. There are any number of ways Israel’s assets there could have sabotaged the helicopter.
Iran has had shaky relations with Azerbaijan for some time. There are numerous points of contention between them. If Azeri forces or Israelis based there conducted this operation, it will poison relations between the two countries.
If my source’s claims are correct, all hell will break loose. When the US assassinated Qassem Soleimani, Iran was deterred by fear of US military force. Iran feels no such constraints regarding Israel.
When Israel destroyed the Iranian consulate in Damascus and assassinated a senior IRG commander, Iran signaled it planned to retaliate. This time, if Iran decides to respond, there will be no such warning.
The killing was an incredibly reckless act. But unfortunately, not surprising given Israel’s record in Gaza for the past eight months. There are no more constraints. No fear of transgressing global norms. No fear of international justice. There is only savagery on a massive scale. Now, any leader Israel has a problem with, can unceremoniously be disposed of.
There is no Israeli strategy behind the killing. Getting rid of Raisi will not change Iran’s posture toward Israel. It will not dent its will to resist. In fact, it will strengthen it. It will rally the populace in support of the government. It will not weaken Iran’s leadership. There are others waiting in the wings to replace him. It is simply murder for murder’s sake. Killing just because you can.
The only thing that might prevent massive Iranian retaliation, is that Israeli fingerprints cannot (yet) be detected. Within days, Iranian officials should know what happened. If Israel used a bomb or missile, this should become known. That being said, the covert nature of the attack might offer Iran some restraint.
Caveat: if true, this report is a bombshell that could destabilize an entire region and soak it in blood than it has seen in years. So I want to acknowledge that this report, while offered by a highly credible source, cannot be independently verified (for obvious reasons). Caution is in order until more corroborating evidence is known.