In a briefing to the Israeli Cabinet on July 20, Yadlin said Iran and
Syria could use their proxies, particularly Hamas and Hizbullah, to attack
the Jewish state. But the military intelligence commander said the two
Middle East states remain concerned that Bush might order a massive strike
before he leaves office.
The Israeli intelligence assessment has determined that Damascus and
Teheran believe that Bush's successor would either reject or suspend any
U.S. plan to destroy Iran's nuclear weapons infrastructure. The assessment
said Iran and its Middle East allies were rooting for the victory of Sen. Barack
Obama.
Yadlin said Iran and Syria have not completed their rearmament effort.
He said both countries were acquiring advanced Russian platforms and weapons
and would need until at least 2009 to absorb them into their militaries.
Over the last year, Iran and Syria have been deploying a range of
Russian air defense systems. Officials said they included the S-300 for
Iran, the TOR-M1 and the Pantsyr-S1E.
Yadlin said the prisoner exchange with Israel in mid-July could
encourage Hamas and Hizbullah to stage a provocation. He said Hizbullah
could again try to abduct Israeli soldiers along the Lebanese border.
"We have intelligence indicating terror activities are possible both on
the northern and southern fronts," Yadlin told the Cabinet. "Hizbullah may
choose to use one of their still disputed subjects, such as the Shebaa
Plateau or [Hizbullah operational chief] Imad Mugniyeh's assassination."