I was just reading this article about a potential future attack on Iran by Israel. Nothing too earth shattering except this tidbit:
Are there really bases for Israel to use in Kurdish Iraq and Azerbaijan ? How’s that work ? I figured no one in the region (or any other Muslim country) would give them the time of day, let alone bases for their drones to use.
I think those are American bases that the US would theoretically allow Israel to use.
Personally, I think that that’s pretty alarmist. I really doubt the US would allow Israel to use their bases to attack Iran. A war in Iran is not in the US’ best interests.
Interesting map of U.S. presence in the area surrounding Iran: http://i.imgur.com/XIHxt.jpg
Hmm…only one more circle to go, it seems…
That map is incorrect, which is likely why it looks so amateurish and general. The US does not have any bases anymore in Saudi Arabia, nor does it have any bases in Turkmenistan, the UAE, Oman or Azerbaijan.
The US does have a base (Manas Transit Center) in Kyrygyzstan as well as bases in Qatar, Bahrain, and Djibouti. There are very few US personnel in Pakistan and nothing that could really be characterized as a base for US military forces.
I have trouble believing that the agreements allowing the bases in those countries allow the US to let third parties to launch strikes against a fourth country.
You may be right - I honestly don’t know how those agreements are run.
What I seriously doubt is that Israel has bases in the countries in question. I’m tempted to email the writer of the article to ask him/her what they meant.
Israel does have fairly good relationships with Azerbaijan and the Kurds, though.
Many Sunni Arab nations in the Mideast are fearful of Iran’s radical Shia, particularly Egypt. http://www.haaretz.com/news/peres-clash-between-iran-sunni-arabs-is-inevitable-1.274050
It’s been Israeli policy for decades to foster close relations with other non-Arab groups in the Middle East.
