Israël face à l'Iran : le Colonel Olivier Rafowicz expose la stratégie de Tsahal devant la presse africaine
Colonel Olivier Rafowicz, an officer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and spokesperson for French-language media, addressed the African press during a Zoom conference. In this exchange, he detailed Israel's position regarding the Iranian threat, ongoing military operations, and the strategic importance of international cooperation, particularly with sub-Saharan Africa.
A preparation for war dictated by a quest for peace
Faced with escalating tensions, Colonel Rafowicz affirmed Israel's need to guarantee its national security while maintaining regional stability: "We must be prepared for war. By engaging in this campaign against the mullahs' regime, Israel is ready to go all the way, believe me, in order to return to a state of peace. A peace which, we all hope, will allow for the further expansion of the Abraham Accords."
Iran designated as a "rogue regime"
According to the spokesperson, Iran represents an immediate existential threat that must be neutralized, particularly in nuclear terms. "If someone is known to have an unstable psychological profile and claims to want to kill everyone, would you give them a weapon? Of course not. For us, Iran is a rogue regime. Allowing such a regime to obtain nuclear weapons would, in effect, give it the ability to use them," he emphasized. He also stressed that Israel, as a democracy allied with the United States and Europe, cannot be compared to a regime it accuses of repressing its population and destabilizing Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq.
Strategic asymmetry: David versus Goliath
The Colonel used a biblical metaphor to illustrate the disparity in power and territory between the two nations: “For Israel, the asymmetry already exists. If we were to revisit the biblical image of David versus Goliath, Israel would be David. The country has approximately 10 million inhabitants, ten times fewer than Iran, and its territory is much smaller: about 21,000 km² compared to over 1.5 million km² for Iran.” It is this disparity, he argued, that justifies close coordination with allies to counter the threat of Iranian ballistic missiles.
War as a political tool and the question of regime
Citing Clausewitz, the officer reiterated that military operations aim for a political resolution. He then humbly qualified his statement: “This war is not a choice but a necessity. It is possible that the situation created by the operation led by the United States and Israel will open a window for the Iranian people to find the strength and the moment to express their will. But ultimately, only the Iranian people are sovereign in deciding the future of their country.” He emphasized that Israel is not at war with the Iranian people, but with their leaders.
The air superiority strategy
On a purely tactical level, Colonel Rafowicz claimed near-total control of enemy airspace. "The objective is to render the enemy almost incapable of controlling or locating aircraft and aerial assets in Iranian airspace. We have also destroyed almost all of the radars in the Iranian air surveillance system," he stated. This dominance allows them to strike industrial and military targets while limiting the capabilities for an immediate response.
A call to strengthen ties with Africa
Finally, the Colonel emphasized the importance of cooperation with the African continent, based on shared development interests. "We are a people who work, innovate, and cooperate. Today, our actions are guided by security, but this security is necessary to continue working and collaborating. For the interests of your countries, just like ours, rest on security, development, and common progress," he concluded.
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