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- The Full Story of Israeli Secret Mission to Destroy MiG-21 Superfighters in Iraq's Armory - Article-1
- Bringing down a fighter plane like MiG-21, that too from under the enemy's nose and without the enemy knowing! Call this a mission or a mere daydream?
Sitting to dig a well when there is a fire...caught sleeping...what happened happened, but now woke up from there morning...avasar gaye budh (knowledge) kya karani...ab pachtaye kya hota jab chidiya chug gayi khet...
Would such idioms and sayings be in the Hebrew language of Israel? Who knows! But if there is, at least in the context of the country's security, it may not be the time to quote them. Because, Israel is so careful about defense that the phrase that fits for its foresight is: If you don't want to catch the enemy sleeping, catch the enemy while he is sleeping! Although this phrase has not been adopted by Israel as a motto, it has been followed by the Israeli authorities since the founding of the country on May 14, 1948. Their determination to secure the nation's borders at any cost has given Israel's security apparatus a 3-D strength with three dimensions: surveillance-espionage-war. As a result of these dimensions, Israel's size has not shrunk even after fighting half a dozen fierce wars with enemy nations like Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia. Rather, in some wars Israel has spread its geographical allies.
A major reason why Israel is always one step ahead of its enemy is its highly efficient intelligence system. A complex secret network of three spy agencies namely Shin Bet, Aman and Mossad is spread across the country and abroad. His spies are famous all over the world for accomplishing missions like Mission Impossible. Mossad will not bother to cut off the ears of the enemy so that he does not know his ears. To this day, Mossad spies have set numerous examples of why espionage is more important than war for the security of the country and how to catch the enemy while he is sleeping. Some of them were discussed in the present column. Read another Mossad Mission Impossible two-volume story this time. The drama behind the veil of secrecy is called: 'Operation Diamond'.
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This high-tension drama began in the year 1962, but the date of the incident that was attributed to Sri Ganesh was February 14, 1955. A supersonic fighter jet named MiG-21 of the Russian company Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau flew into the open sky for the first time that day, defying the four walls of the factory. If the chests of the Russian scientists and engineers who worked day and night to prepare the MiG-21 for the past five and a half years were puffed up, the chests of the Israeli authorities would have sunk. The reason was natural. The Russian-made MiG-21 was the world's first combat aircraft that could play the dual role of fighter and interceptor simultaneously.
Each fighter aircraft plays the role of a fighter while carrying out aerial attacks on enemy targets on the ground. The Russian MiG-21 was also capable of doing that, but the MiG-21 had the extra capability of intercepting enemy aircraft in mid-air and blowing them up. In order to chase the prey and intercept it, the hunter himself should have the speed of a leopard. Hence the technicians of Mikoyan-Gurevich fitted the MiG-21 with a very powerful engine, with which the plane could attain a speed of 2.350 kilometers per hour.
Much could be said about the strength and aeronautics of this winged fighter, but the summary is that commercial production of the MiG-21 began in 1959, with a total of 10,640 being built and sold in the two and a half decades that followed. The MiG-21 has found a place in the air forces of 60 countries of the world, one of which is the Indian Air Force.
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Arms deals between the two countries are based on diplomatic relations. Unfortunately for Israel, it had a political conflict with Soviet Russia since 1953. According to the proverb, enemy of enemy = friend, Soviet Russia extended the hand of friendship to Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, the arch-enemy countries of Israel. In this political climate, Israel's concern when the first MiG-21 flew on February 14, 1955 was justified. After the mass production of the aircraft, if Soviet Russia sells it to countries like Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Israel will not face any problems. It did not have an equal fighter plane in its arsenal that could counter the enemy MiG-21.
What Israel feared came true in 1961-62. Russia sold some MiG-21 aircraft to Egypt in 1961. A few months later, Syria and Iraq were also sold. Thus, the military strength of the three countries became manifold overnight. It was necessary for Israel to somehow balance it out, so soon after becoming the prime minister, he struck a deal with France for Mirage-3 fighter jets. Any other country would have sat back after taking such a step, but Israel was different. Despite adding a fighter like the Mirage-3 to its arsenal, it did not breathe a sigh of relief. He wanted to know how powerful the MiG-21 really was, like a falcon embedded in the enemy's air force, so that in the event of a future war, the Israeli pilots of the Mirage-3 could strongly resist the MiG-21. Instead of digging a well when there is a fire, why not make efforts today so that there will be no fire at all?
With this thought in mind, Israeli Air Chief Ezer Weizmann made a suggestion: How about a MiG-21 from Egypt, Syria, or Iraq to attack Israel secretly? All technological aspects of the MiG-21, which Russia has kept top-secret, will no longer be unknown to Israel. After getting to know the strengths and weaknesses of the aircraft, the Israeli pilots of Mirage-3 can get to know the MiG-21 in the future dog fight.
But to bring down a fighter plane like MiG-21, that too from under the nose of enemy number one and also without the enemy knowing! Call this a mission or a mere daydream? Of course, efficient spy agencies like the Mossad were formed to turn such dreams into reality. Mossad chief Mir Emit was summoned to discuss Air Chief Issar Weizmann's suggestion. When the proposal was presented to him in a secret closed-door meeting, Mir Amit said, 'The mission seems impossibly difficult, but what's the point in trying?'
These words signaled the launch of 'Operation Diamond'. Mission Impossible was so named because the MiG-21 aircraft was the priceless hero of the enemy fleet, which had to be destroyed in the Israeli airspace in such a way that the enemy could not escape.
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In mid-1962, Mir Amit employed elite Mossad spies. A Jewish man named Jean Thomas was very important in this. In Egypt he lived undercover with his family for years and spied for the Mossad. According to the order received from Mir Amit, Jin Thomas was not only to pay a large sum of money to a fighter pilot of the Egyptian Air Force, but he was also to deliver the MiG-21 to Israel.
One day while selecting a suitable 'Murtia' for the mission, Gene Thomas was presented with a pilot named Adeeb Hanna of the Egyptian Air Force. After developing a friendship relationship, Yogi Moke Jin Thomas gently put his mind to Adib Hanna. Adib was offered US$ 10,00,000 for handing over Egypt's MiG-21 to Israel. After some reluctance, Adib agreed, so Jin Thomas was convinced that the fish had been caught in a net. In fact, Gene Thomas himself was caught in the trap. Adeeb Hanna valued loyalty to the nation more than money. He exposed Jin Thomas's plan to his superiors. Patty! Mossad's covert mission is no longer a secret. Jean Thomas was arrested and tried on charges of espionage and conspiracy against Egypt. He was hanged in December 1962.
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This news saddened Mossad chief Mir Amit. However, instead of stopping 'Operation Diamond', it kicked it into top gear. Attempt failed in Egypt, now turn to Iraq! A big-headed Iraqi businessman named Yusuf Shamshah was contacted. Being a Jew by birth, Yusuf had a deep affection for Israel. Yusuf took it upon himself to search for a pilot who could buy the Iraqi air force's MiG-21 by Air Israel. In a few moments he found a 'fish'. Name was: Captain Munir Rafda. Now it was Mossad's job to trap the 'fish'.
A female Mossad spy stationed in Iraq meets Captain Munir Rafda one day at a party. Within a few hours, Munir developed such a friendship with him that Munir started pouring out the longing that was buried in his heart. As a Syrian Christian by birth, he confided to the Mossad agent that he was always viewed with suspicion in the Iraqi Air Force, discriminated against as a non-Muslim, and not promoted quickly. If given a chance, he also expressed his desire to leave Iraq and settle in Europe with his family.
Captain Munir Rafda's sore throat was now in Mossad's hands. Munir had to work sometimes by pressing him, sometimes by cuddling him. But before getting down to business, Mossad itself had to do some homework. After the bitter experience of the Egyptian fighter pilot Adeeb Hanna, the head of Mossad, Mir Amit, did not want to take any risk. What if Rafda falls for Ani like Adeeb Hanna? Hence Mossad took out the full profile of Captain Munir Refda. His performance in the Iraqi Air Force was verified by Tasu Tasu's record. In January 1966, a secret meeting between Mossad chief Amit, senior officers of the Israeli Air Force and Captain Munir Refda took place in Rome, the capital of Italy. Before coming directly to the work, a little background has to be built. Hence, Mir Amit deliberately brought up the issue of mental torture to Captain Rafda from the depressing atmosphere of Iraq. Captain Munir became emotional whether he said two or four sentences of sympathy. Being suffocated in Iraq, he expressed his desire to live a peaceful life in some other country away from there. Mir Amit, who was sitting with a sympathetic wound healing ointment in his hand, immediately seized the opportunity. The captain first gave some comfort and then offered to help.
An Iraqi Air Force MiG-21 plane promised to give Israeli citizenship to Captain Munir Rangechang and his family if he was delivered to Israel. In addition to this, a permanent job in the office of the Israeli Air Force, free education for children and free accommodation and medical treatment for the entire family! The offer was greedy, so Captain Munir accepted immediately. Apart from all these facilities, he asked for Pup,000 dollars as cash prize. This time Mir Amit also agreed immediately.
At the end of a long, secret discussion in a hotel in Rome, Captain Refda's reply was:
'Yes, ready for Operation Diamond!' ■ (gradually)
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