|
Iran
Ready to Strike at Israel’s Nuclear Heart
Iran
has moved ballistic missiles into launch positions, with
Israel’s Dimona nuclear plant among the possible targets,
defence sources said last week. The movement of Shahab-3B missiles,
which have an estimated range of more than 1,250 miles, followed a
large-scale exercise earlier this month in which the Israeli air force
flew en masse over the Mediterranean in an apparent rehearsal for a
threatened attack on Iran’s nuclear installations. Israel
believes Iran’s nuclear programme is aimed at acquiring
nuclear weapons.
The sources said Iran was preparing to retaliate for any onslaught by
firing missiles at Dimona, where Israel’s own nuclear weapons are
believed to be made.
Major-General Mohammad Jafari, the commander of the Revolutionary
Guard, told a Tehran daily: “This country [Israel] is completely
within the range of the Islamic Republic’s missiles. Our missile
power and capability are such that the Zionist regime – despite
all its abilities – cannot confront it.”
An editorial in a government newspaper, Jomhouri Eslami, said: “Our response will hit right at their temple.”
The sabre-rattling coincided with a visit to Israel yesterday by the
chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, for
talks with his Israeli opposite number, Lieutenant-General Gabi
Ashkenazi. This intensified speculation that Israel was seeking US
approval for a possible attack on Iran.
“Although the visit had been planned well in advance, we got the
feeling he was coming to make sure we’ll obey the strict
timetable agreed with the US,” said an Israeli defence source. He
refused to elaborate.
President George Bush has approved the linking of Israel to a US
infrared satellite detection system that could spot Shahab missile
launches within seconds.
This should enable the Israeli air force to destroy such missiles in
the booster stage. The system will also give the Israelis about 15
minutes to seek shelter before any warhead hits.
Source: TimesOnline
Rate
this Article:
Tell
Us What You Think.
|
Subscribe to Our RSS Feed