US, Russian, French and British air and naval forces are gathering around the Syrian and Iranian coasts on guard for fresh developments at the two Middle East flashpoints. The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov put in earlier than planned at Syria's Tartus port Sunday, Jan. 8, together with two more Russian warships. British and French naval craft head to the Persian Gulf, while the giant US RQ-4 Global Hawk drone has begun monitoring Iranian coastlines from the USS Stenning aircraft carrier. . Iran has crossed another red line in its drive for a nuclear weapon with the announcement Sunday, Jan. 8 that the underground uranium enrichment site at Fordo near Qom goes on stream soon.DEBKAfile's military sources: 60 percent enriched uranium can be produced at this facility - just one step before weapons grade. Israel has warned that once Fordo is operational, Iran's nuclear bomb program will be immune to attack and hidden from Western surveillance. US and Israel launch military deployment. Washington and Jerusalem were dismayed to discover last week that Egypt's transitional military rulers (SCAF) were preparing to drop the reins of government and hand them over - lock, stock and barrel, including the armed forces - to civilian rule, i.e., the Muslim Brotherhood, at the earliest opportunity. By staying mute while this process ripened, Israel emboldened Muslim Brotherhood leaders to reiterate that they were not bound by any pledges to Washington to uphold the 1979 peace treaty with Israel. Armed US-Iranian hostilities are dangerously close – more so even than the six-to-eight months widely predicted. By posting a Keep Out sign over the Persian Gulf for the USS Stennis, Tehran is goading the Obama administration into action sooner rather than later. DEBKA-Net-Weekly out Friday assesses the nail-biting face-off generated by US pressure on Iran and Tehran's tactics for throwing it back in America's face. Israel must weigh how far to join US action against the cost of Iranian retaliation. To subscribe to DEBKA-Net-Weekly,click here
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
DEBKAfile DEBKA-Net-Weekly
Monday 9 January 2012
DEBKAfile Special Report January 9, 2012, 10:21 AM (GMT+02:00)
Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kutznetsov in Syrian port
Iran crosses another nuclear red line. Fordo soon on stream
January 8, 2012, 10:15 AM (GMT+02:00)
Fordo underground uranium enrichment site
Generals' early handover to Islamists wrecks hopes for New Egypt
January 8, 2012, 8:19 PM (GMT+02:00)
Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi wants out.
US-Iranian armed showdown impending
January 3, 2012, 4:15 PM (GMT+02:00)
Iranian Qader test-fired near Hormuz
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