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'IDF eyes attack on Iran within hours of green light'
By Haaretz Service
Tags: IDF, Iran, Israel news 

The London Times online edition reported on Saturday that the Israel Defense Force was making preparations to be able to launch a massive aerial assault on Iran's nuclear facilities within days of being given the go-ahead by Israel's government.

"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. They are making preparations on every level for this eventuality. The message to Iran is that the threat is not just words," one senior Israeli defense official told The Times.

The report comes just as the United States voices willingness to launch a dialogue with Iran, to discuss, among other things, the Islamic Republic's controversial nuclear program.
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The London Times report appears to be an Israeli message to Iran conveying its capability and readiness to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

The report includes a nation-wide home front drill, scheduled for June, among what it calls Israel's intensive preparations for the possibility of an attack, aiming to prepare Israel's civilians for the possible consequences of an attack on Iran.

"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," another official from Israel's intelligence community told the Times.

He added that it was unlikely that Israel would carry out the attack without receiving at least tacit approval from America, which has struck a more reconciliatory tone in dealing with Iran under its new administration.

Last Saturday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran now controls the entire cycle for producing nuclear fuel with the opening of a new facility to produce uranium pellets.

Ahmadinejad has announced several times in the past that Iran has the knowledge necessary to enrich uranium ore into fuel pellets, but with the opening of the new facility, the Islamic republic says it now has the
capability.

Tehran maintains that its nuclear ambitions are limited to peaceful ends, but the international community fears that the Islamic republic aims to build nuclear weapons.

Ahmadinejad: Iran's military might stabilizes region

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday a strong Iranian military would help preserve stability in the Middle East, as Iran marked its armed forces' day with a parade that appeared more muted than in the past.

Ahmadinejad gave a relatively low-key speech and there was little sign of the anti-Western banners and slogans normally seen at the annual event.

U.S. President Barack Obama has offered a new beginning of diplomatic engagement with Iran if Tehran "unclenches its fist".

But while Washington favors negotiations to curb Iran's disputed nuclear activities, the advent of a rightist government in Israel has increased international concern that it could go it alone with preventive strikes against Iranian atom sites.

Iran rejects Western accusations that its nuclear program is aimed at making bombs. It has vowed to retaliate for any attack with missile strikes against Israel and U.S. Gulf assets.

"The power of the Iranian armed forces is at the service of the nations ... and will help to preserve the region's security and stability," Ahmadinejad said in a speech at the parade outside Tehran.

"The enemies' courage to pose a threat against the Iranian nation has been eliminated permanently," Ahmadinejad said.

State television said the surface-to-surface Zelzal missile was among military hardware displayed.

But Iran did not show off its longest-range missile, the Shahab-3, which it says can hit targets 2,000 km (1,250 miles) away, putting Israel or U.S. bases in the Gulf within

A major air show with jet fighters was cancelled due to low visibility caused by dust, media said.

Earlier this month, the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain said they would ask European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana to invite Iran to a meeting to find a diplomatic solution to the nuclear row.

Iran favors dialogue and will soon give its response to the offer of talks, Ahmadinejad said in remarks published on Friday.

Tehran says it needs nuclear technology to generate electricity so that it can export more of its gas and oil.

Israel, widely believed to have the Middle East's only atomic arsenal, has described Iran's nuclear program as a threat to its existence. Although it says it wants a diplomatic solution, Washington has also not ruled out military action.

Military analysts say the United States could unleash vastly superior firepower against Iran, but that Tehran could hit back against Washington's forces in Iraq and by disrupting oil supplies vital to the world economy.


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      1.   Would be the most bombasic avoidance tactic in history... 12:02  |  Esther 18/04/09
      2.   HOT AIR 12:05  |  FAJR III 18/04/09
      3.   Good -Cop Bad-Cop 12:25  |  Michael 18/04/09
      4.   Too late but not for games 12:35  |  H 18/04/09
      5.   FAJ III 12:53  |  Ehud 18/04/09
      6.   Iranians don`t care! 12:56  |  hafez 18/04/09
      7.   Too silly for words 12:56  |  Natallie Durson 18/04/09
      8.   mish mash and fuzzy thinking 12:56  |  Palestinian 18/04/09
      9.   Here was I thinking Iran was threatening Israel 13:01  |  Roo 18/04/09
      10.   US says NO! 13:08  |  American APtriot 18/04/09
      11.   Mmm, Bibi trying it on. 13:12  |  Rod 18/04/09
      12.   What If Ahmadinijah made so concrete threats to attack Israel? 13:32  |  jens 18/04/09
      13.   Idf 13:41  |  j 18/04/09
      14.   Warmongering 13:44  |  Sakura One 18/04/09
      15.   Delusional boo boo 13:45  |  Keith T. 18/04/09
      16.   Also reported in The Times today 13:46  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/04/09
      17.   The "Green Light"...! 13:50  |  Stephen. 18/04/09
      18.   The British press is obsessed with Israel, eager to see action, 13:51  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 18/04/09
      19.   Iran won`t bomb Israel 13:51  |  Mohammad 18/04/09
      20.   D O N " T D O I T. 14:20  |  Tzfonit 18/04/09
      21.   ATTACK ON IRAN WITHIN HOURS 14:34  |  K.G. KHAN 18/04/09
      22.   A valid statement and logical too 14:42  |  Welshman 18/04/09
      23.   Bush may be right 14:50  |  Tony 18/04/09
      24.   Ana `arabi 15:00  |  christoph 18/04/09
      25.   Contingency Plans 15:04  |  Peter Williams 18/04/09
      26.   Re Nuttalie # 7 15:20  |  Barry 18/04/09
      27.   Netanyahu is my hero! 15:23  |  Kyle 18/04/09
      28.   No green light for Israel 15:25  |  Marcel 18/04/09
      29.   Israel`s beginning to look pathetic. 15:43  |  Michael 18/04/09
      30.   Learn from history: confront existential threats !! 15:46  |  Arie 18/04/09
      31.   Do You Really Think.... 15:46  |  Barry 18/04/09
      32.   Linthwaite 15:48  |  Free Gilad Shalit 18/04/09
      33.   Israel needs to attack Iran 15:49  |  Still Posts here 18/04/09
      34.   attack against iranian nuclear sites 15:50  |  marco sbandi 18/04/09
      35.   Israel-Land of Holocaust survivors 15:51  |  Anonymous 18/04/09
      36.   PRESSURED FROM MITCHELL & UE TRY TO SANCTION, MINDS GREEN LIGHT 15:55  |  NOTHIN TO WAIT 18/04/09
      37.   `IDF eyes attack on Iran 15:58  |  WHG 18/04/09
      38.   AS YOU KNOW, NEVER GREEN, BUT AMBER LIGHT ALREADY ! 15:58  |  IS BIBI CHICKEN? 18/04/09
      39.   Fools Rush In! 16:05  |  Cool B 18/04/09
      40.   To HAFEZ 16:13  |  oLEG 18/04/09
      41.   FAJR III 16:22  |  D 18/04/09
      42.   Iran needs to elect a reformer 16:26  |  Anonymous 18/04/09
      43.   Tzfonit, OH! Dont worry my friend, they won`t 16:27  |  Jetset 18/04/09
      44.   THANKS LONDON TIMES 16:29  |  indrajaya 18/04/09
      45.   #9 Roo...you must have missed it, but 16:36  |  Nechama 18/04/09
      46.   Delusional boo boo 16:37  |  Nechama 18/04/09
      47.   Learning History 16:39  |  Anonymous 18/04/09
      48.   Trying to take credit... 16:43  |  Druid 18/04/09
      49.   Same talk for next sentury....... 16:49  |  Ba 18/04/09
      50.   Obviously, the US needs to pre-empt the Israelis... 16:49  |  BBSNews 18/04/09
      51.   Confusion reigns 16:49  |  Adam 18/04/09
      52.   Israel. You would have done it already...... 16:50  |  mgb 18/04/09
      53.   End of Israel? 16:54  |  Jethro 18/04/09
      54.   Given approval? By whom? President Obama? 17:01  |  Lou Medel 18/04/09
      55.   If You Do It... 17:05  |  Yosemite 18/04/09
      56.   IDF Iran and green lights 17:08  |  DT 18/04/09
      57.   I think it is only israeli hot air 17:15  |  Siad 18/04/09
      58.   No US Carrier in the Gulf 17:16  |  Mark Lincoln 18/04/09
      59.   Israel has plenty of time 17:23  |  The Prophet 18/04/09
      60.   "IDF eyes attack on Iran within hours of green light" 17:26  |  John 18/04/09
      61.   #10 American Apricot 17:27  |  Poco Loco 18/04/09
      62.   No US support for israeli strike 17:40  |  abby 18/04/09
      63.   Iranian threat to the Israeli security is real 17:50  |  Pavel 18/04/09
      64.   Attempt to distract from US pressure for peace talks 17:53  |  Muslim 18/04/09
      65.   Why Israel will have Nuclear weapons but NOT Iran? 17:56  |  SAM 18/04/09
      66.   Torah, Torah, Torah! 17:58  |  Torrance 18/04/09
      67.   BSnews on pre-empting Israel, the "rogue state" 18:10  |  Stephen in New York 18/04/09
      68.   RE: Iranians Don`t Care! 18:16  |  Cyrus 18/04/09
      69.   #22 Free Gilad Shalit 18:22  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/04/09
      70.   To Palestinian 18:29  |  Normal People 18/04/09
      71.   Writing on the wall 18:39  |  Andrew 18/04/09
      72.   # 57 mark 18:50  |  Axel 18/04/09
      73.   To: Sam 18:54  |  Are you kidding? 18/04/09
      74.   : Natallie Durson is 100% rigt 18:54  |  Antonio da Silva 18/04/09
      75.   Jens, don´t you have television in Denmark? 19:17  |  Mongo 18/04/09
      76.   no gutts 19:19  |  jogeechscha 18/04/09
      77.   #74 Antonio de Boludo 19:24  |  Mongo 18/04/09
      78.   # 73 areyoukidding 19:24  |  Axel 18/04/09
      79.   Israel ready to sacrifice world peace for Settlements Enterprise 19:56  |  Ivar 18/04/09
      80.   Are You Kidding? - You must be 20:01  |  Mark Lincoln 18/04/09
      81.   Israel should be the first to strike! 20:09  |  Jean Van Daem 18/04/09
      82.   # 81 JvD 20:22  |  Axel 18/04/09
      83.   Israel is increasingly talking to itself. 20:31  |  Colin Wright 18/04/09
      84.   If Bibi is waiting on obama the coward for a green light,he can 20:35  |  glenna 18/04/09
      85.   #81 Jean Van Daem 20:36  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/04/09
      86.   Israel will always survive 20:42  |  Selim 18/04/09
      87.   Natalie, i cant wait 20:48  |  marc 18/04/09
      88.   Roo - Iran already threatened Israel...You weren`t dreaming 20:57  |  Ben 18/04/09
      89.   Mongo, why openly lie about Ahmadinejad... 21:04  |  BBSNews 18/04/09
      90.   The west is hoping Israel does it`s dirty work 21:14  |  Mary P. 18/04/09
      91.   Tzfonit gives the red light 21:15  |  Tzfonit 18/04/09
      92.   don`t dream 21:36  |  Abdulaziz 18/04/09
      93.   Why Israel why 22:15  |  Hank 18/04/09
      94.   Mary, 90, deluded or worse. Israel is the cynical aggressor. 22:18  |  Ivar 18/04/09
      95.   Too much talking 22:19  |  An American 18/04/09
      96.   Selim, 86 in gross error and delusion 22:33  |  Ivar 18/04/09
      97.   Selim 95, thank you for your comment 22:50  |  dan 18/04/09
      98.   Selim 95, thank you for your comment 22:50  |  dan 18/04/09
      99.   Ester 22:50  |  Brad 18/04/09
      100.   Israel strikes Iranian nuclear facilities... 22:52  |  Mad Iranian 18/04/09
      101.   Natallie 22:54  |  Brad 18/04/09
      102.   Palestinian 22:56  |  Brad 18/04/09
      103.   Roo 22:57  |  Brad 18/04/09
      104.   Sakura One 23:01  |  Brad 18/04/09
      105.   #8, Palestinian, wake up and smell your coffee.. 23:27  |  Israeli Observer 18/04/09
      106.   Hess stop lying and accept that Mongo is right 23:38  |  Marek 18/04/09
      107.   Brad, is someone going to attack Canada? 00:02  |  BBSNews 19/04/09
      108.   Im a comin` 00:38  |  Wyatt Earp 19/04/09
      109.   #18 The British press is obsessed with Israel 00:55  |  joan 19/04/09
      110.   Iran + Israel 02:43  |  Jack Haddad 19/04/09
      111.   Closing israel 02:45  |  David King 19/04/09
      112.   A fighting chance 05:34  |  Iain 19/04/09
      113.   MAREK 08:39  |  chris 19/04/09
      114.   MAREK 08:42  |  chris 19/04/09
      115.   EYES on IRAN 15:57  |  The Teacher/Instruct 19/04/09
      116.   Iran Declared War on Israel in 1992 16:17  |  Murray of Montreal 19/04/09
      117.   chris 17:01  |  Marek 19/04/09
      118.   How To Bring Peace To The Middle East 01:59  |  Patrick 20/04/09
      119.   good question 15:17  |  jeffrey 20/04/09
      120.   #12 Jens he has and does attack (Hesbulloh) 20:37  |  Big Sur 20/04/09
      121.   TO CHRIS LINTHWAITE, YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW THE ARAB MIND WORKS. 19:14  |  DANNY 03/05/09
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