Israel vows to stand up to missile movements by Iraqis

ISRAEL has threatened to attack any Iranian military assets in Iraq as it has done in Syria, following reports Tehran has moved ballistic missiles closer to the Jewish state.

Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s defence minister, signalled it would “contend” with Iranian provocations wherever they are found.

“We are certainly monitoring everything that is happening in Syria and, regarding Iranian threats, we are not limiting ourselves just to Syrian territory,” he said.

Asked if this included Iraq, he responded: “I am saying that we will contend with any Iranian threat, and it doesn’t matter from where it comes... Israel’s freed.”

Tehran has transferred dozens of short-range ballistic missiles to Shia proxies in Iraq over the last few months, according to reports.

The missiles have ranges of 640km, putting Tel Aviv within striking distance if the weapons were deployed in southern or western Iraq.

The Quds Force, the overseas arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has bases in both those areas. “It seems Iran has been turning Iraq into its forward missile base,” a Western source said.

Israel is technically at war with Iraq, but the two countries have not openly traded blows for decades.

Israel has, however, conducted hundreds of air strikes against arms transfers and deployments by Iran and its Lebanese ally, the Shia Hizbollah militia, fearing the threat across its border.

Israel will also be watching political developments in Baghdad with concern. After months of wrangling, two blocs claim to hold the majority of seats in parliament and therefore the right to name a prime minister. (© Daily Telegraph London)