US Media: Israel Appears to Practice Iran Attack
By VOA News
20 June 2008
A U.S. media report says Israel has carried out a major military exercise that U.S. officials say appeared to be practice for a potential attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
An article published in The New York Times Friday says the Israeli military practiced maneuvers involving more than 100 fighter jets over the Mediterranean and Greece earlier this month. It quotes an unnamed U.S. military official as saying Israel is showing it is prepared to take action if international efforts fail to persuade Tehran to suspend its nuclear program.
Israeli military officials have not confirmed the report.
In Moscow Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned against the use of force on Iran. He said Israel and the United States have not provided proof that Tehran is using its nuclear program to develop weapons.
The United States and its allies accuse Iran of working to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran says its atomic program is for peaceful purposes.
Israel has said a nuclear-armed Iran could threaten the existence of the Jewish state. Israeli military officials also say the air force regularly trains for various missions to meet challenges posed by threats facing Israel.
The New York Times says helicopters and refueling tankers also participated in the Israeli rehearsal operation, flying more than 1,400 kilometers -- the approximate distance between Israel and Iran's uranium enrichment facility at Natanz.
Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a senior Iranian Shi'ite cleric, warned Friday that Israel and the U.S. will face a heavy blow if they speak of using force against Iran. Iran has repeatedly warned it will respond strongly to any Israeli attack.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
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