Unidentified sub penetrates Israeli waters

[Ma Deuce]

Foreign sub in Israeli waters thought gathering intelligence
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service

A foreign submarine that entered Israeli territorial waters last week, is believed have been from a Western nation friendly to Israel and on an intelligence-gathering mission, miltiary sources said Monday.
The vessel was detected near the beaches of the northern coastal city of Nahariya, sparking a naval high alert.

It was discovered only after penetrating three miles into Israeli waters. Navy patrol and missile boats detected the submarine, and were ordered to close on and follow it. But the submarine slipped out of the area before they arrived.

The craft's crew, apparently aware that it had been discovered, then turned the submarine and left the area.

Former navy chief Avraham Ben-Shushan said Monday that intelligence-gathering was the only purpose of a submarine of this type.

The defense establishment believes the sub was from a friendly nation, one with sound relations with Israel.

The navy has opened an investigation into the incident, to determine whether the submarine was on an intelligence mission, or had strayed off course.

An Army Radio report said the incident represented a "failure" on the part of security forces, "since the submarine succeeded in evading all notice in real time."

The report said that at the time, the navy had related to the craft as a "hostile target" and had placed all its ships and radar on highest alert.

There was no apparent tie to the flight of a drone over northern Israel three days before. The pro-Iranian Hezbollah organization claimed responsibility for the over-flight of the drone.

An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the vessel belonged to a NATO member country and was detected during the night between Nov. 9-10.

I wonder who it was? It was probably a nuke boat, and if it belonged to NATO that narrows it down to the US, UK, and France (though France's SSNs are mediocre by Western standards, so they are less likely than the US or UK). If somehow the Israelis were mistaken about it belonging to NATO, we can add Russia to that list.

[Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba]

Didn't tjis just happen to Japan?

[Stormbringer]

Most likely the US keeping an eye of the Israelis so that they don't do anything naughty with the current Palestinian unrest.

[Admiral Valdemar]

I'd love it if this was some unknown nation that's been lying in secret on some obscure island and collecting info. on world powers before a major strike. Y'know, like Sky Captain.

Otherwise, nothing really major. Nations spy on one another all the time, even allies.

[Jason von Evil]

I'd love it if this was some unknown nation that's been lying in secret on some obscure island and collecting info. on world powers before a major strike. Y'know, like Sky Captain.

Otherwise, nothing really major. Nations spy on one another all the time, even allies.

Maybe it's Atlantis!

Probably the US. We like to spy on our allies.

[Frank Hipper]

American or British, I'm sure.

[JME2]

I'd love it if this was some unknown nation that's been lying in secret on some obscure island and collecting info. on world powers before a major strike. Y'know, like Sky Captain.

Otherwise, nothing really major. Nations spy on one another all the time, even allies.

Maybe it's Atlantis!

Hmm, or perhaps even Neo-Atlantis.

[Aaron]

There was no apparent tie to the flight of a drone over northern Israel three days before. The pro-Iranian Hezbollah organization claimed responsibility for the over-flight of the drone.

Hezbollah has drones now? Terrorists are getting pretty sophisticated.

[MKSheppard]

Hezbollah has drones now? Terrorists are getting pretty sophisticated.

Iran gave 'em to them

[Aaron]

Iran gave 'em to them

Is that a joke?

[Admiral Valdemar]

Is that a joke?

I don't see anyone laughing.

[Aaron]

I don't see anyone laughing.

Me either. How would a terrorist organization get the training needed to run a drone? I assume that Iran would have supplied technical advisors to them as well. Did Israel shoot the dron down? And what action if any are they taking against Iran for suppling their enemies with gear?

[JME2]

(Going off-topic for a moment I might as well explain the image in my post; this is a Garfish-class submarine from the anime series Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, a vessel used by Neo-Atlantis -- hence the joke ).

[Admiral Valdemar]

Obviously, there will be some diplomatic bickering going on in the background, but Iran is at liberty to sell what it wants to whomever it wants. Be thankful it's only drones they sold this time. Now you can see why Iran getting The Bomb is bad juju.

(Going off-topic for a moment I might as well explain the image in my post; this is a Garfish-class submarine from the anime series Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, a vessel used by Neo-Atlantis -- hence the joke ).

I need to see that series, if only for the girl. I've still yet to see the Disney film take on the whole Atlantis thing either.

[JME2]

I need to see that series, if only for the girl. I've still yet to see the Disney film take on the whole Atlantis thing either.

Good man.

If you enjoyed Evangelion, you'll like this; it contains the beginnings of the religious references, self-analysis, and hell even musical style that Anno would use for EVA, but it still good enough to stand on its own.

Just avoid the movie at all costs...

[Aaron]

Obviously, there will be some diplomatic bickering going on in the background, but Iran is at liberty to sell what it wants to whomever it wants. Be thankful it's only drones they sold this time. Now you can see why Iran getting The Bomb is bad juju.

Well if we get lucky Israel may launch some Popeye Turbos at the reactor and take it down. But isn't selling weapons to terrorists against international law? Methinks Israel could push for some sanctions against Iran for that. Not that it would accomplish much.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Israel should simply put more effort into getting THEL online so the drones and subsequent rocket attacks amount to jack.

[Aaron]

Israel should simply put more effort into getting THEL online so the drones and subsequent rocket attacks amount to jack.

Exactly. Even without THEL they must have air defense units on standby though. Just blow the damn thing out of the sky.

[Stormbringer]

But isn't selling weapons to terrorists against international law? Methinks Israel could push for some sanctions against Iran for that. Not that it would accomplish much.

This is Iran we're talking about. They're definitely the most qualified of the Axis of Evil™ for good reason. It's the sort of thing they've been doing for a long time now.

And yeah, Israel and the US could push for sanctions. But the Europeans wouldn't go along.

[Aaron]

And yeah, Israel and the US could push for sanctions. But the Europeans wouldn't go along.

What is it with them? Do they oppose that sort of thing out of spite? Or do they not care because it doesn't concern them? Israel is no saint but if they are denied diplomatic avenues than they may turn to military ones, and that would just create a big mess.

[Seggybop]

How much more complicated is a drone aircraft than a model airplane that anyone can make? It has longer range and some spying equipment. I don't see how this is so shocking that someone might make one.

[Aaron]

How much more complicated is a drone aircraft than a model airplane that anyone can make? It has longer range and some spying equipment. I don't see how this is so shocking that someone might make one.

It's not that they can't make one, which given the conditions they would be working under I doubt they could. It's that they need a ground control satation and trained operators to fly it. Than there are the logistical difficulties of getting the parts they need, and keeping ahead of Israel finding the ground station by triangulating their signals.

[Stormbringer]

And yeah, Israel and the US could push for sanctions. But the Europeans wouldn't go along.

What is it with them? Do they oppose that sort of thing out of spite? Or do they not care because it doesn't concern them? Israel is no saint but if they are denied diplomatic avenues than they may turn to military ones, and that would just create a big mess.

I don't know but it sure seems like spite to me.