Israel Blames Iran For Attack in Bulgaria

SOFIA, BulgariaA bus carrying Israeli youth exploded Wednesday in a Bulgarian resort, killing at least four people and wounding more than two dozen, in an attack Israel is blaming on Iran.

The explosion took place in the Black Sea city of Burgas, some 250 miles (400 kilometers) east of the capita TV images showed smoke billowing from the scenea parking lot at the local airport where the Israeli tourists had apparently just landed. Several buses and cars were on fire near the shell of the exploded vehicle.

It wasn't yet certain what caused the blast in the Eastern European nation, whether it was the result of a suicide bomber or a device remotely detonated, and no group immediately claimed responsibility.

But Israelis often have been targeted in attacks outside their country, and Wednesday's bombing coincided with the 18th anniversary of the bombing of a Jewish community center in Argentina that killed 85 people. An Argentine magistrate has concluded Iran was behind that attack.

Israel suspects Iran of being behind several of those assaults, which have added to tensions between the two nations that were already high due to Iran's nuclear program. Israel has warned it will use military force to curb Iran's program if it must because it believes Tehran wants atomic weapons, a charge Iranian officials deny.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran for the blast and promised a tough response. In a statement, he said that once again, "all signs point to Iran," though he didn't offer any evidence to back up the claim.

The Israeli premier noted that Wednesday's attack followed similar attempts in India, Georgia, Thailand and Kenya and Cyprus in recent months.

"This is an Iranian terror attack that is spreading across the world," Mr. Netanyahu said. "Israel will react strongly to Iran's terror."

The White House, which has preferred to pursue sanctions and diplomatic pressure against Iran in the nuclear dispute, also strongly condemned the attack. Press Secretary Jay Carney said President Barack Obama's "thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and injured."

Tehran didn't immediately issue any comment.

Bulgaria, a country of 7.3 million bordering Greece and Turkey, is a popular tourist destination for Israelis.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Jonathan Rosenzweig said a flight from Tel Aviv had landed at 4:45 p.m. at the airport and that the blast took place about 40 minutes later. The tourists were apparently boarding the buses to go to their hotels.

Witness Gal Malka told Israel's Channel 2 TV that she saw someone board the bus before it exploded. Malka, who was lightly wounded, said the bus was full of Israeli teenagers. "We were at the entrance of the bus and in a few seconds we heard a huge boom," she said.

Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov told Bulgarian national TV from Burgas that a person died in the hospital, bringing the death toll to four. Before that announcement, a doctor at the Burgas city hospital told Bulgarian radio that there were 27 people hurtand at least three had severe injuries. He wasn't identified.

The Burgas airport was closed and traffic redirected. In Sofia, meanwhile, Mayor Yordanka Fandakova ordered a stronger police presence at all public places linked to the Jewish community. There are some 5,000 Jews in Bulgaria and most live in the capital.

Iran, which insists its nuclear program is peaceful, has in the past accused Israel of being behind deadly attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists.

Israel hasn't admitted a role in those strikes, but it and others have accused Iran of alleged reprisal missions, including a February bombing in New Delhi that wounded an Israeli diplomat's wife and the discovery of a cache of explosives in Bangkok that Thai officials claim was linked to a plot to target Israeli diplomats. Iran has denied involvement.

In Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, security officials in March announced the arrest of 22 suspects allegedly hired by Iran for terrorist attacks against the U.S. and Israeli embassies and other Western-linked sites.

Israeli officials also have long feared that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrilla group would try to attack Israelis abroad. Hezbollah has accused Israel of assassinating a top leader in Damascus in 2008 and vowed to avenge the killing. Israel has never admitted involvement in the mysterious explosion.

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon on Israel's Channel 2 TV said there was no advance intelligence on an attack in Bulgaria.

But counterterrorism expert Boaz Ganor said Iran and Hezbollah were the most likely culprits. He said that all the indications pointed toward them. He also cited the arrest of a Hezbollah operative in Cyprus in recent days who was suspected of preparing a similar attack.

"This is probably a parallel operation and likely not the last in a series," he said. "All this looks like Hezbollah, Iran or a combination of the two."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444464304577534922286189802.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Right on the anniversary of the bombings in Argentina.


Looks like iran is about to get hit. I know WAFF iranians are rolling their eyes, but if you pay attention, Israel didn't blame hezbollah they
blamed iran directly.

There's no doubt Bibi will respond to this attack. I think this was the "incident" Bibi was looking for to strike iran. And with the US saying "we're
behind Israel" and having a huge naval presence, it looks like the excuse they've been looking for.

They'll probably hit the revolutionary guards first and then see what iran does in response.


Looks like i didn't waste my money on all that popcorn after all!!



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