REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK – Claim: U.S. inspected Saudi bases ahead of Iran attack
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 11:44 AM EST
by Aaron Klein
U.S. military personnel last week inspected bases in Saudi Arabia that could be used as part of a future confrontation with Iran, according to an informed Middle East security official speaking to me today.
Iran, too, may be preparing its partners for war.  Ahmed Jabari, the leader of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ so-called military wing, visited Iran and Syria last week for consultations on how to respond if Iran or Syria are attacked, the same security official said.
The official said Jabari’s visit came amid intense Iranian concern over a U.S. or Israeli strike targeting Tehran’s suspected nuclear facilities.
While it is not clear whether Saudi Arabia will allow the U.S. to use its country as a staging ground for attacking Iran, the Saudis many times have expressed concern over Iran’s growing influence in the region.
There have even been reports of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Israel on the Iranian nuclear matter. My own sources point to such cooperation on the level of intelligence sharing.
Saudi Arabia does not maintain an open diplomatic relationship with Israel. But the Sunni Muslim country, together with Jordan and other so-called moderates, is threatened by the growing influence of Iran, dominated by Shiite Islam.
In 2009, it was claimed that then-Mossad chief Meir Dagan met Saudi intelligence officials to gain assurances that Saudi Arabia would turn a blind eye to Israeli jets violating Saudi airspace during any raid on Iran’s nuclear plans. Both governments denied the reports.
There have been Internet rumors claiming Israel last year dropped off military equipment in Saudi Arabia. Some unsubstantiated reports even claimed Israel was building a secret military base in Saudi Arabia for use in a future conflict with Iran. Those reports are inaccurate, according to Israeli military officials.
With the clock ticking on Iran’s nuclear project and all eyes trained toward Jerusalem, some are noting the U.S. and Israel may already be in engaged in a covert war with Tehran. Recent developments include Iranian nuclear scientists disappearing or being assassinated; recent mysterious explosions at Iranian bases; the Stuxnet virus that reportedly set back Tehran’s nuclear facilities; and the claim that Iran downed a U.S. drone (America says it was a technical problem).
