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Israel Hones Ability to Launch Strike on Iran

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 18, 2009 1:08 PM CDT

(Newser) – Israel is engaging in a bit of saber rattling directed toward Iran, the Times of London reports. The military is beefing up its air arsenal and training to be ready to strike Iran’s nuclear sites at a moment's notice. “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,” a defense official said. “The message to Iran is that the threat is not just words.”

The nation also is running massive civil defense drills to prepare the citizenry for any counter-attack. Insiders view the January strike on a Gaza-bound convoy in Sudan as a “rehearsal.” The odds of such a strike happening? Hard to say. Most think the preparation will be for nothing if the Obama administration does not give at least a quiet nod of approval, but the US has been sounding a more conciliatory note of late toward Tehran.

[Images (5)]

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An Israeli Air force pilot. (AP Photo)

An Israeli attack helicopter. (AP Photo)

An Israeli air force F-16I fighter plane. (AP Photo)

An Israeli F-16 warplane. (AP Photo)

The reactor building dominates the nuclear power plant in Bushehr, Iran. (AP Photo)

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According to Israeli Intelligence they will have the bomb within two years. Once they have a bomb it will be too late, and Israel will have no choice to strike—with or without America.
- Israeli Defense Ministry official

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