THE WISDOM FUND: News & Views
October 31, 2012
The Independent (UK)

Sudan: The New Battlefield in Iran and Israel's Covert Conflict

by Daniel Howden

Iranian warships have arrived in Port Sudan in an apparent show of support for the government in Khartoum, one week after it accused Israel of bombing an arms factory in the Sudanese capital. . . .

While Iran said the mission was related to anti-piracy efforts, the move represents a possible escalation of a proxy war between Iran and Israel that has been playing out in the conflict between the Sudans.

Israel has emerged as an influential military and commercial ally of South Sudan since its independence last year, while Iran has strengthened its links with the Khartoum regime. . . .

Israel has been accused of sending eight fighter jets to destroy an arms factory in Khartoum last week, in a possible rehearsal for a strike on Iranian nuclear targets. The government in Israel has refused to confirm or deny the allegations, with Sudan saying it will report the country to the UN. Israel has previously referred to Sudan as a "dangerous terrorist state". Both Israel and the US have bombed targets inside Sudan.

Imagery released by the US monitoring group The Satellite Sentinel Project supported the Sudanese claims of an air strike. Pictures released by the group, which is traditionally critical of the regime in Khartoum, showed half a dozen large craters, measuring more than 50-feet across. . . .

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"Southern Sudan Vote: Freedom for Southern Sudan, or Freedom to Exploit?," The Wisdom Fund, January 9, 2011

Ian Black, "Israeli attack' on Sudanese arms factory offers glimpse of secret war," guardian.co.uk, October 25, 2012

Anshel Pfeffer, "Sunday Times report details alleged IAF strike on Sudan arms factory," haaretz.com, October 28, 2012

[The ongoing failure of Sudan and South Sudan to resolve tense standoffs over oil ownership, border demarcation, and the status of the disputed Abyei region constitutes a delicate dilemma for China. Namely, Beijing will be challenged to advance its interests in the Sudans while upholding its foreign policy principle of non-intervention in other states' affairs.--Giorgio Cafiero, "China's Sudan challenge," atimes.com, February 9, 2013]

Khalid Abdelaziz and Andrew Green, "Sudan's Bashir pledges peace in first South Sudan visit since split," atimes.com, April 4, 2013

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