A new report published by the US Centre for Strategic and International Studies has examined the consequences of a full-scale nuclear war between Israel and Iran. Based on the surmise that Iran is permitted by the international community to continue developing its nuclear programme, the CSIS believes the nation could theoretically manufacture around 30 nuclear warheads within the space of 10 years. According to the report a nuclear war between Israel and Iran could last for up to three weeks, and in a worst-case scenario, would lead to the deaths of around 800,000 Israelis and 28 million Iranians. Syria and Iran presently have a mutual defence pact, and if Syria also entered the fray, this could cause the deaths of an additional 800,000 Israelis, but around 18 million Syrians would be killed. The CSIS concludes that Israel could "weather" a nuclear war but Iran would most likely be "utterly obliterated".

Quote: "The bottom line, according to this study, is that Israel quite simply has more potent and effective bombs. Israel currently has a 1megaton (mt) nuclear bomb, whereas Iran does not yet have the ability to develop a bomb with more than 100 kilotons of power. What this means, in essence, is that the Israeli bomb can lead to three times as many casualties as its Iranian counterpart (chiefly due to third-degree burns), and has an "area of extreme lethality" (the range within which a nuclear bomb is fatal) ten-times as great. Which Israeli cities are most likely to be targeted by Iran? Tel-Aviv and central Israel (all the way down to Ashdod) are the most likely targets, as is Haifa. Israel, conversely, has more than 10 Iranian cities on its "hit list" including Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, Qazvin, Shiraz, Yazd, Kerman, Qom, Ahvaz, and Kermanshah. Cordseman also noted that Iran would have lower fission yields, and less accurate force into cluster targeting on Israel's two largest urban complexes, and that the Iranian side would also most likely be thwarted by Israel's missile defense systems. Notable among these is the "Arrow 2" anti-ballistic missile which could most potentially shoot down most nuclear missiles launched by Iran. Furthermore, Israel could strike Iran with far grater accuracy and precision, hitting its cities with deadly aim utilizing both its own satellites, as well as those of the United States.

The Scriptures indicate that some sort of nuclear war may erupt in the Middle East during the tribulation period. Following the Russian-Arab invasion of Israel mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39, the Bible states that God's wrath will come up in His face. In that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel, so that every wall shall fall to the ground, the steep places shall fall and the mountains shall be thrown down (Ezekiel 38:19-20). Five sixths of the invading army will be wiped out, and their weapons will be destroyed before they even have a chance to use them. It's interesting that Israel's anti-missile system should be called the "Arrow II"...

Ezekiel 39:2-3
And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.

Finally God will send a fire on Magog and those that dwell carelessly in the coasts (Ezekiel 38:22, 39:6). With Russia once again increasing its involvement in the Middle East, and the US having effectively taken the Iranian military option off the table, its easy to see how Israel will be left to face this nuclear crisis alone. All this will happen because God will choose to miraculously defend His people, that His name may be sanctified among the nations.

Source YNet News