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40 Years Ago Today - IDF Operation Opera
Posted on 6/7/21 at 9:32 am
Posted on 6/7/21 at 9:32 am
Israeli Jets Destroy Iraqi Reactor
Israel this week will mark the 40th anniversary of one of the most daring military missions in its history: the elimination of the would-be nuclear reactor in Iraq. The operation stunned the world and went down in history as one of the most audacious Israeli Air Force raids ever performed and one that defeated all odds.
Operation Opera was a surprise airstrike mounted by the eight IAF fighter jets on June 7, 1981. The jets dropped 16 bombs on their target, leveling Osirak, an unfinished Iraqi nuclear reactor located 17 kilometers (11 miles) southeast of Baghdad.
The pilots were only told of their targets after months of training, during which one of the gravest concerns was that of fueling.
Aerial refueling was not an option in those days, and the fuel what was then highly advanced F-16 fighter jets was barely enough to strike Iraq and make it back to Israel.
Israel this week will mark the 40th anniversary of one of the most daring military missions in its history: the elimination of the would-be nuclear reactor in Iraq. The operation stunned the world and went down in history as one of the most audacious Israeli Air Force raids ever performed and one that defeated all odds.
Operation Opera was a surprise airstrike mounted by the eight IAF fighter jets on June 7, 1981. The jets dropped 16 bombs on their target, leveling Osirak, an unfinished Iraqi nuclear reactor located 17 kilometers (11 miles) southeast of Baghdad.
The pilots were only told of their targets after months of training, during which one of the gravest concerns was that of fueling.
Aerial refueling was not an option in those days, and the fuel what was then highly advanced F-16 fighter jets was barely enough to strike Iraq and make it back to Israel.
10
Posted on 6/7/21 at 9:38 am to blueridgeTiger
They should thank us for the F-16's
Posted on 6/7/21 at 9:41 am to blueridgeTiger
quote:
Aerial refueling was not an option in those days, and the fuel what was then highly advanced F-16 fighter jets was barely enough to strike Iraq and make it back to Israel.
I’m surprised by this. Thought aerial refueling had been around for a while by then.
Posted on 6/7/21 at 9:49 am to blueridgeTiger
Those who are surrounded by countries on all sides that want their literal extermination as human beings are forced to do some desperate things to eliminate serious threats to their existence. If you ask me, Israel’s very existence throughout all of their various conflicts defies explanation and points to God’s intervening hand and His promises are as true today as they ever were.
Posted on 6/7/21 at 10:03 am to Nodust
quote:
Thought aerial refueling had been around for a while by then.
Yes, aerial refueling was well developed before Operation Opera, and I have found reference to IDF using aerial refueling in Operation Wooden Leg against the PLO in Tunis in 1985.
Posted on 6/7/21 at 10:10 am to blueridgeTiger
Surprisingly, the United States was vehemently opposed to this. Saddam was our ally at the time and we were actively funding and supporting his invasion of Iran, only to then claim he was an existential threat to us a decade later and then again another decade later.
Posted on 6/7/21 at 10:12 am to blueridgeTiger
Silly question, but what is the range of a fighter jet these days anyway?
Posted on 6/7/21 at 10:15 am to Mike da Tigah
That’s pretty deep.
Posted on 6/7/21 at 10:19 am to blueridgeTiger
The raid on Entebbe was more impressive
Posted on 6/7/21 at 10:28 am to Nodust
quote:Look at the map and suggest a refueling site.
I’m surprised by this. Thought aerial refueling had been around for a while by then.
Violating airspace with fighters is one thing. Refueling in restricted airspace is quite another.
Posted on 6/7/21 at 10:29 am to Mike da Tigah
quote:FIFY
If you ask me, Israel’s very existence throughout all of their various conflicts defies explanation and points to America’s intervening hand and it’s promises are as true today as they ever were.
Posted on 6/7/21 at 11:17 am to blueridgeTiger
quote:The real issue is no place to safely refuel on the ingress or egress routes......
quote:
Thought aerial refueling had been around for a while by then.
Yes, aerial refueling was well developed before Operation Opera, and I have found reference to IDF using aerial refueling in Operation Wooden Leg against the PLO in Tunis in 1985.
Posted on 6/7/21 at 11:17 am to SCLibertarian
quote:
Surprisingly, the United States was vehemently opposed to this. Saddam was our ally at the time and we were actively funding and supporting his invasion of Iran, only to then claim he was an existential threat to us a decade later and then again another decade late
During the Iran - Iraq War the US supplied Saddam Hussein with arms and intelligence while Israel supplied Iran with spare parts. The US wanted a strong Iraq as a counter to Iran's growing strength. Hussein gummed up the plan by his invasion of Kuwait (after Ambassador April Glaspie gave him an apparent green light to proceed). If Iraq had only occupied the neutral zone, the US probably would not have challenged him militarily, but by taking over the entire country, he sealed his own fate.
Posted on 6/7/21 at 11:54 am to blueridgeTiger
quote:
I have found reference to IDF using aerial refueling in Operation Wooden Leg against the PLO in Tunis in 1985.
quote:
40 Years Ago Today - IDF Operation Opera
Math is hard
Posted on 6/7/21 at 1:06 pm to Shiftyplus1
quote:
Math is hard
as is reading comprehension.
Posted on 6/7/21 at 1:08 pm to blueridgeTiger
Interestingly one of the Israeli pilots was Ilan Ramon who later died in the space shuttle Columbia crash.
LINK
LINK
Posted on 6/7/21 at 1:21 pm to Mike da Tigah
quote:
Those who are surrounded by countries on all sides that want their literal extermination as human beings are forced to do some desperate things to eliminate serious threats to their existence. If you ask me, Israel’s very existence throughout all of their various conflicts defies explanation and points to God’s intervening hand and His promises are as true today as they ever were.
This is propaganda.
Saudi Arabia and Jordan are both allies. The US has military bases there.
Lebanon would be an ally had they not overstayed their welcome in the civil war. They still easily could be. Lebanon is not an Islamist state. Their president has to be Christian by constitution.
Posted on 6/7/21 at 1:30 pm to Tigers0891
quote:
They should thank us for the F-16's
I'm sure they did thank Reagan. Those planes were ordered by Iran while the Shah was in power, but with the hostage crisis, we did not deliver them. Reagan comes into office and someone asked what to do with these fighters. The Reagan administration said let's see if Israel wants them. They did. They were already training for the mission using older jets, but these helped, even though they had to quickly modify them. Raid on the Sun by Rodger Claire is a pretty good account of operation.
Posted on 6/7/21 at 1:34 pm to BeepNode
quote:
Saudi Arabia and Jordan are both allies. The US has military bases there.
Hurt Locker was filmed on a Jordanian base. I was stationed at that base for a year. It sucked. Although going in to Amman on the weekends was cool.
Posted on 6/7/21 at 1:39 pm to blueridgeTiger
Do the Lavon Affair next
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