# If it was a test, who conducted it? · 1979 Vela incident > Four answers have been proposed. Israel, possibly with South African help or territory. leads, with evidence 2 for, 1 against: partly supported by its… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WYQ270JZ/if-it-was-a-test-who-conducted-it Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:59:03+00:00 --- **0** # If it was a test, who conducted it? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: israel, possibly with South African help or territory** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. Israel, possibly with South African help or territory. leads, with evidence 2 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters Attribution has been the political core of the case from the first weeks⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WHS01J09/the-22-september-1979-event)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WMEY25SX/vela-incident-south-atlantic-mystery-flash-in-september-1979). ## Answers 4 [**Israel, possibly with South African help or territory.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/answers/ANS0CW4X78G2VTN/israel-possibly-with-south-african-help-or-territory) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for, 1 against Most likely [**Another state, such as a covert Soviet test.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/answers/ANS0CW4X8FJ2T8D/another-state-such-as-a-covert-soviet-test) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/answers/ANS0CW4X8Z63VH2/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**South Africa alone.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/answers/ANS0CW4X87R6W2A/south-africa-alone) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 1979[Director of Central Intelligence puts forward: israel, possibly with South African help or territory.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WHS01J09/the-22-september-1979-event) 1. 1979[Director of Central Intelligence puts forward: south Africa alone.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WHS01J09/the-22-september-1979-event) 1. 1979[Director of Central Intelligence puts forward: another state, such as a covert Soviet test.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WHS01J09/the-22-september-1979-event) 1. 1979[Director of Central Intelligence: the DCI assessment noted the DIA's suggestion that the Soviet Union might have had reasons for a covert test.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WHS01J09/the-22-september-1979-event)For: Another state, such as a covert Soviet test. 1. 2016[Burr & Cohen: israel gave the United States categorical denials of nuclear-weapons cooperation with South Africa in 1977.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WMEY25SX/vela-incident-south-atlantic-mystery-flash-in-september-1979)Against: Israel, possibly with South African help or territory. 1. 2016[Burr & Cohen: the 2016 editors judge an Israeli test, possibly with South African assistance, the more likely reading.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WMEY25SX/vela-incident-south-atlantic-mystery-flash-in-september-1979)For: Israel, possibly with South African help or territory. 1. 2020[Cohen & Burr: carter recorded in February 1980 a growing belief among US scientists that Israel had tested.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WN6C7XSV/revisiting-the-1979-vela-mystery-a-report-on-a-critical-oral)For: Israel, possibly with South African help or territory. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WYQ270JZ/if-it-was-a-test-who-conducted-it%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WYQ270JZ/if-it-was-a-test-who-conducted-it%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WYQ270JZ/if-it-was-a-test-who-conducted-it%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WYQ270JZ/if-it-was-a-test-who-conducted-it%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WYQ270JZ/if-it-was-a-test-who-conducted-it%23add-source) Where it fits 1979 Vela incident **If it was a test, who conducted it?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]