TEL AVIV — Israel's Air Force is practicing to destroy Iranian nuclear assets in a single sweeping strike, a U.S. specialist said in a radio interview.
Israel has established 60 targets required for the destruction of Iran's nuclear weapons program, Kenneth Timmerman told Israel National Radio.
Timmerman said any military strike on Iran would be much more difficult
than the Israeli destruction of Iraq's nuclear weapons program in 1981. Israel Air Force F-16s destroyed the Osirak nuclear reactor outside of
Baghdad in 1981, setting back Iraq's program for a decade.
"It's not going to be Iraq, but the short answer is yes [Israel can
destroy Iran's nuclear weapons program]," Timmerman said.
Israel has not confirmed Timmerman's assertions. But former senior
officials and parliamentarians stress that Israel must prepare for a
military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, preferably in cooperation with
the United States.
"We must make practical preparations in that maybe we will be asked to
operate as part of a coalition," former Israel Air Force commander Maj. Gen.
Eitan Ben Eliahu told the Herzliya Conference on Sunday.
Timmerman, author of a new book, "Countdown to Crisis," said Israel
has the ability to destroy Iran's nuclear weapons program.
"They have identified five dozen
targets that they believe are high-priority targets," Timmerman said.
Ben Eliahu said numerous Iranian sites must be targeted in any effort to
destroy that nation's nuclear program. He appeared to doubt the ability of
Israel to carry out such a mission alone.
"If this is operation is to be conducted, it must be done in continuing
waves [of air strikes]," Ben-Eliahu said. "Therefore,we are talking of an
international effort."
Timmerman said Israel has formed a leadership team that has focused on
the destruction of Iran's nuclear weapons program. He pointed out that the
new head of military intelligence, Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, was the lead air
force pilot in the operation against Osirak.
"I don't think that was a coincidence," Timmerman said. "You have a team
in place that has tremendous experience, knows what they're doing and has
cool nerves."
On Jan. 31, Bush in his State of the Union address is
expected to focus on the Iranian threat, Timmerman said. On Feb. 2, Washington and the EU-3
will urge the International Atomic Energy Agency to recommend that the
Iranian nuclear file be submitted to the United Nations Security Council for
sanctions, Timmerman said.
At that point, Timmerman said, Iran could spark an international crisis.
One prospect was withholding oil exports.
"I'm sure Iran will activate all of its minions," Timmerman said. "We're
looking for $100 per barrel of oil before the crisis begins."
