Post by Paddy by Grace on Apr 19, 2009 18:59:59 GMT -7
Israel May Launch Massive Aerial Assault On Iran's Nuclear Facilities
www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7014833501
Mayur Pahilajani - AHN News Writer
London, United Kingdom (AHN) - The Israel Defense Force is preparing to launch a massive air strike on Iran's nuclear facilities upon order by the authorities, a British newspaper reported Saturday.
The Israeli military is ready to launch dozens of aerial assaults within days of being notified by the new government, The Times said, citing unnamed Israeli defence and intelligence sources.
"Israel wants to know that if its forces were given the green light they could strike at Iran in a matter of days, even hours," one senior defence official told the paper.
The official added, "They are making preparations on every level for this eventuality. The message to Iran is that the threat is not just words."
Tension between the Jewish state and Tehran has increased as Iran has repeatedly refused to stop enriching uranium, which the international community fears may be used to build nuclear weapons.
A group of six nations, called the P5+1 and composed of China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, has offered Iran a proposal of incentives in exchange for halting its uranium enrichment activities.
The international community along with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been seeking an end to the uranium enrichment since Tehran's secret enrichment plant in Natanz was exposed in 2002. But the Islamic Republic has denied developing nuclear weapons and has insisted that the country's nuclear activities are meant to generate electricity for a growing population.
One of the steps taken by the Israeli forces to prepare for the alleged areal assault was to acquire three Airborne Warning and Control (AWAC) aircraft and to carry out regional missions to simulate the attack.
"We would not make the threat [against Iran] without the force to back it. There has been a recent move, a number of on-the-ground preparations, that indicate Israel's willingness to act," said another official from Israel's intelligence community told The Times.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who took office early this month, has reportedly said that Jerusalem will not tolerate Iran to continue with its nuclear activities as it may use the weapons against the Jewish State.
Ephraim Kam, the deputy director of the Institute for National Security Studies, was quoted by The Times as saying that it was unlikely that Americans would approve an attack.
"The American defence establishment is unsure that the operation will be successful. And the results of the operation would only delay Iran's programme by two to four years," he said.
According to the paper, Israel could target sites include Natanz, where thousands of centrifuges produce enriched uranium; Esfahan, where 250 tonnes of gas is stored in tunnels; and Arak, where a heavy water reactor produces plutonium.
www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7014833501
Mayur Pahilajani - AHN News Writer
London, United Kingdom (AHN) - The Israel Defense Force is preparing to launch a massive air strike on Iran's nuclear facilities upon order by the authorities, a British newspaper reported Saturday.
The Israeli military is ready to launch dozens of aerial assaults within days of being notified by the new government, The Times said, citing unnamed Israeli defence and intelligence sources.
"Israel wants to know that if its forces were given the green light they could strike at Iran in a matter of days, even hours," one senior defence official told the paper.
The official added, "They are making preparations on every level for this eventuality. The message to Iran is that the threat is not just words."
Tension between the Jewish state and Tehran has increased as Iran has repeatedly refused to stop enriching uranium, which the international community fears may be used to build nuclear weapons.
A group of six nations, called the P5+1 and composed of China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, has offered Iran a proposal of incentives in exchange for halting its uranium enrichment activities.
The international community along with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been seeking an end to the uranium enrichment since Tehran's secret enrichment plant in Natanz was exposed in 2002. But the Islamic Republic has denied developing nuclear weapons and has insisted that the country's nuclear activities are meant to generate electricity for a growing population.
One of the steps taken by the Israeli forces to prepare for the alleged areal assault was to acquire three Airborne Warning and Control (AWAC) aircraft and to carry out regional missions to simulate the attack.
"We would not make the threat [against Iran] without the force to back it. There has been a recent move, a number of on-the-ground preparations, that indicate Israel's willingness to act," said another official from Israel's intelligence community told The Times.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who took office early this month, has reportedly said that Jerusalem will not tolerate Iran to continue with its nuclear activities as it may use the weapons against the Jewish State.
Ephraim Kam, the deputy director of the Institute for National Security Studies, was quoted by The Times as saying that it was unlikely that Americans would approve an attack.
"The American defence establishment is unsure that the operation will be successful. And the results of the operation would only delay Iran's programme by two to four years," he said.
According to the paper, Israel could target sites include Natanz, where thousands of centrifuges produce enriched uranium; Esfahan, where 250 tonnes of gas is stored in tunnels; and Arak, where a heavy water reactor produces plutonium.