# If Israel and Iran throw down can Iran hurt Israel or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 10, 2009, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-israel-and-iran-throw-down-can-iran-hurt-israel-or-not/513297 "2009-10-10T08:56:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-israel-and-iran-throw-down-can-iran-hurt-israel-or-not/513297/21 "2009-10-11T17:40:42Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Wow that’s terrible news. Israel really should dial back the paranoia a bit Yeah, its kind of shocking that Israel wont take the moderate, peace loving, honest-to-a-fault Iranian regime at its word that it’s nuclear ambitions are peaceful…:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-israel-and-iran-throw-down-can-iran-hurt-israel-or-not/513297/22 "2009-10-11T19:25:40Z")
Remember, everyone, this is GQ, not GD. The question is not whether war is likely to break out, nor which side (if either) would be justified. The question is just what the technical capabilities are in the event of a war. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-israel-and-iran-throw-down-can-iran-hurt-israel-or-not/513297/23 "2009-10-11T19:54:33Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > The OP has two questions really. First of all: > > _Does Iran have the capability to reach Israel with missiles or planes?_ > > You would need to answer this in terms of just equimpment. Yes it does but that doesn’t really answer the question in full. > > The planes and missiles could reach Israel but Israel isn’t going to just be hit blindsided. Also to get to Israel, Iran has to go over (US occupied) Iraq and Jordon. Neither is at all going to be happy with this. > > The battle, if it came to that would be fought OVER those countries. > > There isn’t really much Israel can do poltically without the USA. The reason is, if they act unilaterally, they lose the political goodwill. If that happens then even the Arabs that are happy living in a “cold-peace” with Israel will come out against it. > > Isreal doesn’t have a lot of friends, but it has a lot of nations that are fine leaving it as it is, such as Egypt, and Jordan. > > You don’t want to turn those nations against you. > > Isreal won a lot of praise in hindsight for destroying Iraq’s nuclear program but the world and especially technology is much more advanced than way back in the 80s. An analogy would be, no one would fall for a Trojan Horse today. > > Finally remember threats are often as good as war. Look at what it got Hitler, before he made one threat too many. Same for Stalin. And they are good for observations. Supposing Israel threatens Iran. Then the US can observe how Iran is responding to those threats. For example, if Iraq had a secret place to hide things, and Israel threatens, then the advance US technology can see exactly what response Iran is taking and can deduce what Iran has from that I agree with the analysis on the political question, but would beg to differ on the military aspect. The issue is not hardware, to hurt Iran’s capacity in any meaningful way they would need to c arry out a sustained bombing campaign against a country almost 2000 km away, in the face of rather intense Anti-Air defences as opposed to a one night only mission like Orsirak or Tunis. The IAF is not a force configured for such operations, the deep strike missions in Egypt with bases in the Sinai were unsuccessful and had to be called off back in the days of the war of attrition. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-israel-and-iran-throw-down-can-iran-hurt-israel-or-not/513297/24 "2009-10-11T20:37:39Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > I don’t see any reason why Israel can’t develop their own bunker busters. The idea has been around since WWII and the Israelis make good weapons. But as I understand it, Iran has dispersed their nuclear sites so that it is anywhere from really difficult to impossible to hit them all at once. Iran did this as a lesson learned after Israel bombed the Osirak reactor in Iraq, blowing away Saddam’s eggs and basket in one fell swoop. True, but we have just developed one that can blast deeper. Iran has dispersed them, but also made them deeper, beyond the reach of preexisting bunker busters. Perhaps Israel can develop the same technology or perhaps she can buy it from us, but the problem remains about the dispersion of the sites. This greatly increases the risk and decreases the chance for success. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-israel-and-iran-throw-down-can-iran-hurt-israel-or-not/513297/25 "2009-10-11T23:06:43Z")
I can’t see Israel being able to mount a sustained campaign for the reasons noted above. However, I also don’t see even a nuclear abled Iran sending a suitcase bomb into Israel. They know Israel’s response would then be overwhelming and even the most crazed Iranian hardliner knows they need an actual country to stay in power. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-israel-and-iran-throw-down-can-iran-hurt-israel-or-not/513297/26 "2009-10-12T19:23:20Z")
If Iran develops nuclear weapons, it doesn’t have to use them itself. It can give them to Hezbollah and Hamas, as it has been doing with non-nuclear weapons. Hezbollah and Hamas idolize suicide jihadists, and really don’t have a state government for themselves, although they are parts of two different governments. It would, however, be difficult for Iran to deny it supplied the weapons. But these are fanatics and I don’t trust that they wouldn’t use them. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-israel-and-iran-throw-down-can-iran-hurt-israel-or-not/513297/27 "2009-10-12T19:57:40Z")
> [@barbitu8](#): > > If Iran develops nuclear weapons, it doesn’t have to use them itself. It can give them to Hezbollah and Hamas, as it has been doing with non-nuclear weapons. Hezbollah and Hamas idolize suicide jihadists, and really don’t have a state government for themselves, although they are parts of two different governments. It would, however, be difficult for Iran to deny it supplied the weapons. But these are fanatics and I don’t trust that they wouldn’t use them. Not likely actually. Thing is once someone gets “The Bomb” the last thing they want to do is let anyone else get one. Handing a nuke to Hezbollah? Not likely. Further, I think most countries would not be fooled into thinking Hezbollah secretly manufactured their own bomb. Attention would immediately turn to Iran and they could fully expect the whole world coming after them for doing that. The ass kicking would be complete. If they were to try a terrorist nuke attack they’d need to blow up most major Western cities in one go. That still leaves a bunch of nuclear submarines out there anyway…they’d still get flattened. Nah, Iran gets a bomb then it can agitate more forcefully for regional control. Anyone threatens to come after them they threaten to nuke them back. A nuke is your ace in the hole so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-israel-and-iran-throw-down-can-iran-hurt-israel-or-not/513297/28 "2009-10-13T05:56:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You have to read the whole thread. It isn’t “Israel” doing this as the OP wrongly alleged, it’s one rogue ex-minister. Ooops 😃 > [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Yeah, its kind of shocking that Israel wont take the moderate, peace loving, honest-to-a-fault Iranian regime at its word that it’s nuclear ambitions are peaceful…:rolleyes: Iran’s not peaceful? How many wars have they started? They’re all bluff and no bite, Israel SHOULD take their word that their nukes are peaceful. Having them will make sure of that. With nukes, they can be assured that they won’t be invaded by some stupid neocon government out to prove a point. I hope Iran gets nukes so this daily will-they-or-won’t-they cat-and-mouse game will finally come to an end. ---
**Author:** ![FRDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-israel-and-iran-throw-down-can-iran-hurt-israel-or-not/513297/29 "2009-10-13T09:24:19Z")
I strongly suspect that Israel knows more about Iran’s weapons programs than most. Mainly from sources on the ground. Every so often someone gives the USA etc a hint of where to look. While Israel does have a track record of bombing perceived threats, eg: the N. Korean unidentified ‘thing’ in Syria and the arms convoy recently bombed in Sudan, they also have other approaches - like what happened to the Supergun and its Belgian inventor. Iran could get at Israel using unconventional means, and Israel could go in for some pre-emptive retalliation using equally (or more) unconventional means. Personally I think that is quite likely - when you see signs of someone planning an airborne bombing raid, that is the time to worry about a ‘known unknown’. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-israel-and-iran-throw-down-can-iran-hurt-israel-or-not/513297/30 "2009-10-14T07:40:29Z")
> [@](#): > > …what happened to the Supergun and its Belgian inventor. Although it’s a fictional account, Frederick Forsyth’s _The Fist of God_ opens with the story of Gerry Bull and makes a very compelling case that he was not, repeat not, assassinated by the Israelis: -The projects he was working on at the time (artillery, rockets and the supergun) were not a threat to Israel. -The people who killed him were observed by witnesses following him around. Mossad Kidon teams are invisible. -Bull loved to discuss his work and had never heard of the term discretion. If the Israelis (whom he liked and got along well with) challenged him about one of his projects, he’d go into great detail about exactly what the challenges were and how he was going to overcome them. He gave this intelligence upon request and for free. -Israel apparently has a policy of warning an industrialist to knock it off if their work is seen as a threat (In the recent Gaza war, Israel did the “roof knock” on the homes of actual terrorists so this doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch to me). It seems much more likely that he was killed by the Iraqis to prevent him from talking about the work he was doing on their behalf. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-israel-and-iran-throw-down-can-iran-hurt-israel-or-not/513297.md?page=1)